Octopus Quotes

exaggeration is the octopus of the English language

The Hawaiian creation myth relates that the present cosmos is only the last of a series, having arisen in stages from the wreck of the previous universe. In this account, the octopus is the lone survivor of the previous, alien universe.

In their brief time together Slothrop forms the impression that this octopus is not in good mental health, though where's his basis for comparing?