Quotes from book
Catch-22

Name: Catch-22
Author: Joseph Heller

Joseph Heller

Catch-22 is a satirical war novel by American author Joseph Heller. He began writing it in 1953; the novel was first published in 1961. Often cited as one of the most significant novels of the twentieth century, it uses a distinctive non-chronological third-person omniscient narration, describing events from the points of view of different characters. The separate storylines are out of sequence so the timeline develops along with the plot.

“I said it again as a German might. "Rabinovitz. Ich bin Lew Rabinowitz, LR, von Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. Du Kennst?" And then I spoke Yiddish. "Und ich bin ein Yid. Farshtest?" And then in English. "I am a Jew. Understand?" And then in my fractured German. "Ich bin Jude. Verstehst?" Now they didn't know where to look, but they did not want to look at me. I've got blue eyes that can turn into slits of ice, Claire still tells me, and a pale, European skin that can turn red fast when I laugh hard or get mad, and I wasn't sure they believed me.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Source: Catch-22 (1961), pp. 122

“He could never decide whether to furgle them or photograph them, for he had found it impossible to do both simultaneously.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Source: Catch-22 (1961), pp.53-54. Dell 1962 edition. (First use of "furgle" in the United States.)

“But I make a profit of three and a quarter cents an egg by selling them for four and a quarter cents an egg to the people in Malta I buy them from for seven cents an egg. Of course, I don't make the profit. The syndicate makes the profit. And everybody has a share.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“Outside the hospital the war was still going on. Men went mad and were rewarded with medals.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“"Let someone else get killed!" "Suppose everyone on our side felt that way?" "Well then I'd certainly be a damned fool to feel any other way, wouldn't I?"”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“The yellow moon turned orange and was soon red as the setting sun.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Source: Catch-22 (1961), pp. 462

“Catch-22 says they have a right to do anything we can't stop them from doing.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“Climb, you bastard! Climb, climb, climb, climb!”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“Dear Mrs., Mr., Miss, or Mr. And Mrs. Daneeka: Words cannot express the deep personal grief I experienced when your husband, son, father, or brother was killed, wounded, or reported missing in action.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“The case against Clevinger was open and shut. The only thing missing was something to charge him with.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“This time Milo had gone too far. Bombing his own men and planes was more than even the most phlegmatic observer could stomach, and it looked like the end for him…Milo was all washed up until he opened his books to the public and disclosed the tremendous profit he had made.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“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.