You wouldn’t be normal if you were never afraid. Even the bravest men experience fear. One of the biggest jobs we all face in combat is to overcome fear.
Joseph HellerRead
How much reverence can you have for a Supreme Being who finds it necessary to include such phenomena as phlegm and tooth decay in His divine system of Creation? What in the world was running through that warped, evil, scatological mind of His when He robbed old people of the power to control their bowel movements?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote questions the nature of divinity by highlighting the imperfections present in human existence.
Joseph Heller's quote critiques the concept of a perfect Supreme Being by pointing to the uncomfortable and often grotesque aspects of human life, such as illness and aging. By examining these seemingly trivial yet troubling elements, Heller encourages a deeper inquiry into the nature of divine creation and the inherent flaws within it, prompting a reflection on the complexities of existence and the challenges faced by humanity.
Themes
DivineCreationImperfectionHumanityPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophy class discussion on the nature of God and creation.
More from Joseph Heller
All quotes →History did not demand Yossarian's premature demise, justice could be satisfied without it, progress did not hinge upon it, victory did not depend on it. That men would die was a matter of necessity; WHICH men would die, though, was a matter of circumstance, and Yossarian was willing to be the victim of anything but circumstance. But that was war. Just about all he could find in its favor was that it paid well and liberated children from the pernicious influence of their parents.
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The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.
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He had decided to live forever or die in the attempt.
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Hungry Joe collected lists of fatal diseases and arranged them in alphabetical order so that he could put his finger without delay on any one he wanted to worry about.
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The country was in peril; he was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence by daring to exercise them.
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