1.

The paradoxical rules employed by the military within Catch-22 are only meant to give a
facade of fairness.

“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own
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 would have 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.” (Heller pg. 46)

2.War will drain you of both your sanity and joy with time.

“Yossarian’s attitude toward his roommates turned merciful and protective at the mere
recollection of Captain Black. It was not their fault that they were young and cheerful” ”He would
just have to be patient with them until one or two were killed and the rest wounded, and then
they would all turn out okay” (Heller pg. 349).

3.Despite all the power and might of an army, all the men it consists of are still fragile and able
to be ripped apart by the enemy.

“Man was matter, that was Snowden's secret. Drop him out a window, and he'll fall. Set fire to
him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot, like other kinds of garbage. The spirit gone, man is
garbage. That was Snowden's secret” (Heller pg. 440).

4. War will blur the lines between an individual person or enemy with the groups they are
fighting for or against.

“‘They’re trying to kill me,’ Yossarian told him calmly.

‘No one’s trying to kill you,’ Clevinger cried.
‘Then why are they shooting at me?’ Yossarian asked.
‘They’re shooting at everyone,’ Clevinger answered. ‘They’re trying to kill everyone.’
‘And what difference does that make?’” (Heller pg. 16).

5. In military roles people are simply assigned to their roles whether they are fit for it, or simply
at the mercy of someone more incompetent than them.

“Major Major had been born too late and too mediocre. Some men are born mediocre, some
men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them. With Major Major it
had been all three” (Heller pg. 83)
6. The horrors and tragedy of war will almost certainly strip any man of their faith in God.

“‘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’” (Heller pg. 445).

7. The industrial and economic complex of America will claim to be working in your best interest
but will only ever care about their profit..

“There was no morphine in the first-aid kit, no protection for Snowden against the pain but the
numbing shock of the gaping wound itself.The twelve syrettes of had been stolen from their
case and replaced with a cleanly lettered note that said: ‘What’s good for M & M Enterprises is
good for the country. Milo Minderbinder’” (Heller pg. 436).

“‘It must be nice to live like a vegetable,’ he conceded wistfully.

‘It’s lousy,’ answered Yossarian.” ”’What kind of vegetable, Danby?’
‘A cucumber or carrot.’
‘What kind of cucumber? A good one or a bad one?’
‘Oh, a good one of course.’
‘They’d cut you off in your prime and slice you up for a salad.’
‘A poor one then’
‘They’s let you rot and use your fertilizer to help the good ones grow’” (Heller pg. 446)

“‘What are you talking about?’ Yossarian asked suspiciously. ‘I’m not dying.’
‘Of course you’re dying. We’re all dying. Where the devil else do you think your heading?’”
(Heller pg. 182)

“The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likable. In three days no one could
stand him” (Heller pg. 9)