When I look up, I see people cashing in. I don’t see heaven or saints or angels. I see people cashing in on every decent impulse and every human tragedy.

—Yossarian

I’m not running away from my responsibilities. I’m running to them. There’s nothing negative about running away to save my life. You know who the escapists are, don’t you, Danby? Not me and Orr.

—Yossarian

Anything worth living for,” said Nately, “is worth dying for.”
“And anything worth dying for,” answered the sacrilegious old man. “is certainly worth living for.”

—Nately and sacrilegious old man

Middle age is flown, but it is attitude, not years, that condemns one to the ranks of the Undead, or else proffers salvation. In the domain of the young there dwells many an Undead soul.

—Timothy Cavendish

No, what’s selfish is to demand another to endure an intolerable existence, just to spare families, friends, and enemies a bit of soul-searching.

—Robert Frobisher

Now I’m a spent firework; but at least I’ve been a firework.

—Robert Frobisher

Strip back the beliefs pasted on by governesses, schools, and states, you find indelible truths at one’s core.

—Robert Frobisher

Suffering and pain are always obligatory for a broad consciousness and a deep heart. Truly great men, I think, must feel great sorrow in this world.

—Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov