Catch-22

by Joseph Heller

American literature is deplorably replete with books that secured fame for their authors, but little fortune.

The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likable. In three days no one could stand him.

it was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything.

“You’re inches away from death every time you go on a mission. How much older can you be at your age?

“Maybe a long life does have to be filled with many unpleasant conditions if it’s to seem long. But in that event, who wants one?”

Racial prejudice is a terrible thing, Yossarian. It really is. It’s a terrible thing to treat a decent, loyal Indian like a nigger, kike, wop or spic.”

Irony.

“Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn’t really crazy.” There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to.

The only way a person can learn is by trying.”

Major Major had been born too late and too mediocre. Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.

He did not want to keep digging holes for the rest of his life, although he had no objection to doing it as long as there was a war going on and it was part of the war effort. “It’s a matter of duty,” he observed, “and we each have our own to perform.

Things are better when you have a purpose.

I hate to say this, Yossarian, but you’re turning into a chronic complainer.”

“He can’t take criticism and he won’t listen to advice.”

“Well, frankly, I don’t know how long America is going to last,” he proceeded dauntlessly. “I suppose we can’t last forever if the world itself is going to be destroyed someday. But I do know that we’re going to survive and triumph for a long, long time.”

“They are going to kill you if you don’t watch out, and I can see now that you are not going to watch out. Why don’t you use some sense and try to be more like me? You might live to be a hundred and seven, too.” “Because it’s better to die on one’s feet than live on one’s knee,”

“Neither am I, Father,” said the major. “It’s just that I’m a very devout person, and I like to call all men of God Father.” “He doesn’t even believe there are atheists in foxholes,” the colonel mocked, and nudged the chaplain in the ribs familiarly. “Go on, Chaplain, tell him. Are there atheists in foxholes?” “I don’t know, sir,” the chaplain replied. “I’ve never been in a foxhole.” The officer in front swung his head around swiftly with a quarrelsome expression. “You’ve never been in heaven either, have you? But you know there’s a heaven, don’t you?”

The man who declares that survival at all costs is the end of existence is morally dead, because he’s prepared to sacrifice all other values which give life its meaning. —SIDNEY HOOK

“. . . It’s better to die on one’s feet than live on one’s knees,”

The night was filled with horrors, and he thought he knew how Christ must have felt as he walked through the world, like a psychiatrist through a ward of nuts, like a victim through a prison of thieves. . . . Mobs . . . mobs of policemen. . . . Mobs with clubs were in control everywhere.

it is the best American novel that has come out of anywhere in years.

The effect of good satire is to make us laugh with horror.

“. . . how much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in His divine system of creation . . . Why in the world did He ever create pain?” “Pain?” Lieutenant Scheisskopf’s wife pounced upon the word victoriously. “Pain is a useful symptom. Pain is a warning to us of bodily dangers.” . . . “Why couldn’t He have used a doorbell instead, to notify us, or one of His celestial choirs?”

As is the case with many original works of art, Catch-22 is a novel that reminds us once again of all that we have taken for granted in our world and should not,