In Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," Colonel Korn embodies an authoritarian figure who suppresses inquiry among his subordinates. The quote highlights the absurdity of military bureaucracy, suggesting that those who are curious or seek clarity are silenced, while those who remain uninquisitive are allowed to speak freely. This reflects the paradoxical and illogical nature of the rules governing the soldiers' lives.
The statement underscores a central theme of the novel, which is the...