He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt, and his only mission each time he went up was to come down alive.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- He chose to live fully while accepting the risk of death.
- In plain terms
- He risked everything for a goal but wanted to survive.
- What can you take from it?
- Take risks but prioritize survival.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What risks are you willing to take?
- How do you balance passion and safety?
Another view
It romanticizes high risk without addressing safety.
More from Joseph Heller
'The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.'
Permalink to quote #7 'From now on I'm thinking only of me.' Major Danby replied indulgently with a superior smile: 'But, Yossarian, suppose everyone felt that way?' 'Then,' said Yo…
Permalink to quote #9 Clevinger was dead. That was the basic flaw in his philosophy.
Permalink to quote #6
Related quotes
No right way is easy in this rough world. We must risk our lives to save them.
John MuirJohn Muir quote #20 Take the case of courage. No quality has ever so much addled the brains and tangled the definitions of merely rational sages. Courage is almost a contradiction…
Gilbert Keith ChestertonGilbert Keith Chesterton quote #127 Is life worth living? Yes, so long As there is wrong to right, Wail of the weak against the strong, Or tyranny to fight;
Alfred AustinAlfred Austin quote #2