In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," the character Clevinger is portrayed as intelligent yet lacking common sense. This contradiction highlights a common theme in the novel where characters possess varying degrees of intellect but often fail to apply it in practical situations. Clevinger's experience is a reminder that intelligence alone does not guarantee sound judgment or understanding of the absurdities of the world around them.

This observation about Clevinger resonates with the broader critique of bureaucratic systems in "Catch-22," where intelligence can be rendered useless in the face of illogical regulations and absurdity. The quote suggests that those around Clevinger are aware of his shortcomings before he comes to realize them himself, emphasizing the often ironic distance between self-perception and reality in the novel.