“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind.”

—  Joseph Heller, book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)
Context: There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's 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. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed. "It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers …" by Joseph Heller?
Joseph Heller photo
Joseph Heller132
American author 1923–1999

Related quotes

Warren Farrell photo

“In The Deadliest Catch, the death the men face is the source of entertainment, but not of concern.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Source: The Boy Crisis (2018), pp. 67

Adlai Stevenson photo

“Words calculated to catch everyone may catch no one.”

Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965) mid-20th-century Governor of Illinois and Ambassador to the UN

Address to the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois. (21 July 1952); published in Speeches of Adlai Stevenson (1952)

Malcolm X photo

“You and I, 22 million African-Americans — that's what we are — Africans who are in America. You're nothing but Africans. Nothing but Africans. In fact, you'd get farther calling yourself African instead of Negro. Africans don't catch hell. You're the only one catching hell. They don't have to pass civil-rights bills for Africans.”

Malcolm X (1925–1965) American human rights activist

The Ballot or the Bullet (1964), Speech in Cleveland, Ohio (April 3, 1964)

Terry Pratchett photo

“What did I tell you about Mister Safety Catch?' said Vimes weakly.
When Mister Safety Catch Is Not On, Mister Crossbow Is Not Your Friend,' recited Detritus, saluting.”

Terry Pratchett book Night Watch

Source: Night Watch

Newton Lee photo

“Creationism and Darwinism are not necessarily contradictory; they each have an answer to the age-old catch-22 question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?””

Newton Lee American computer scientist

Google It: Total Information Awareness, 2016

Hanns Johst photo

“Whenever I hear of culture … I release the safety catch of my Browning!”

Hanns Johst (1890–1978) German general

Wenn ich Kultur höre … entsichere ich meinen Browning!
Schlageter

Peter Greenaway photo

“If a player in the game of Deadman's Catch drops a skittle, he is obliged to suffer a succession of handicaps. First to catch using one hand, then to catch kneeling on one knee, then on two knees, then with one eye closed. If a player finally drops a catch with both eyes closed, then he is out and must take his place in the winding-sheet.”

Peter Greenaway (1942) British film director

Drowning By Numbers

Warren Farrell photo

“Industrialization created the “Father’s Catch-22”: a dad loving his children by being away from the love of his children.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Source: Father and Child Reunion (2001), p. 88.

Related topics