Skip to content
quotesby

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.

Joseph Heller#4

BureaucracyLogicContradictionRulesSafety

WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)X (opens in a new tab)

About this quote

What does it mean?
Bureaucratic rules trap individuals in logical loops that punish rational self-preservation.
In plain terms
You must be crazy to be grounded, but wanting to be grounded proves you're sane.
What can you take from it?
Illogical systems make safety impossible.

Where it applies

  • workplace rules
  • legal systems
  • military orders

Putting it to work

  • document contradictions
  • seek loopholes
  • resist irrational rules

Questions to consider

  • How do you fight a system like this?
  • When is obedience dangerous?

Another view

Some rules exist for order, not absurdity.

More from Joseph Heller

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

    Permalink to quote #3

  2. 'Open your eyes, Clevinger. It doesn't make a damned bit of difference who wins the war to someone who's dead.'

    Permalink to quote #5

  3. It was love at first sight. The first time Yossarian saw the chaplain he fell madly in love with him.

    Permalink to quote #2

Related quotes

  1. Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status.

    Dr. Laurence J. PeterDr. Laurence J. Peter quote #2

  2. When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead, And the White Knight is talking backwards and the Red Queen's lost her head, Remember what the dormouse said…

    Grace SlickGrace Slick quote #4

  3. That doesn't make any sense. Sorry. There's no known way of saying an English sentence in which you begin a sentence with 'in' and emphasize it. Get me a jury …

    Orson WellesOrson Welles quote #9