In Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22," the protagonist faces the absurdity of military bureaucracy during World War II. The dialogue illustrates the ironic logic of war, where the line between sanity and insanity becomes blurred. The notion that only a sane person would refuse to continue flying dangerous missions highlights the paradox of survival in a chaotic environment.

This quotation encapsulates the central theme of the book, which critiques the irrationality of war and the conflict between personal safety and duty. The characters navigate a system that seems designed to trap them in circular reasoning, raising questions about the nature of bravery and the consequences of war's demands.