1 Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. -J. D. Salinger
Human behavior can sometimes be immensely disgusting and pathetic. There are so many people out there who are disgusted by how low humans can stoop to get things their way.
2 I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It’s nice. -J. D. Salinger
It can melt one’s heart to see someone get really excited about something. The big smile plastered on their face and the way they talk about it all is something that’s worth seeing.
3 The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. -J. D. Salinger
It’s immature to be hot-blooded and be ready to die for a cause. Dying for something is easy. What’s difficult is to live for something and that’s what a mature man would do.
4 It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to. -J. D. Salinger
People can be easily manipulated. You do one good thing for them out of the blue and they’ll end up doing anything you want them to.
5 People are always ruining things for you. -J. D. Salinger
Holden was a pessimist young man who didn’t like people at all. He felt that all they did was ruin things for him and made his situations worse.
6 Certain things, they should stay the way they are. -J. D. Salinger
Some things in life are best preserved the way they are. Things like culture and tradition have to be left untouched.
7 All morons hate it when you call them a moron. -J.D Salinger
Idiots don’t like it when they’re called out. That’s the thing about idiots, they never know that their actions are moronic and unacceptable.
8 Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules – J. D Salinger
This is the piece of advice Holden’s former teacher gives him. He lectures Holden about the importance of playing by the rules and the consequences that follow if you do not.
9 Catholics are always trying to find out if you’re Catholic. -J. D Salinger
This quote illustrates what Holden thinks about religion and the Catholics in general. He isn’t happy with being categorized according to faith and doesn’t like it when someone asks about his religion.
10 I said old Jesus probably would’ve puked if He could see it—all those fancy costumes and all. -J. D. Salinger
According to Holder, all of religion was a fallacy and a lost cause. He remarks how if Jesus was alive, he probably wouldn’t be happy with all the fancy religious celebrations
11 What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours. -J. D Salinger
The most fascinating thing about books is how close they bring you to the author. After you’re done reading the book, you cannot help but want to connect with the author on a more personal level.
12 I don’t care if it’s a sad good-bye or a bad good-bye, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t, you feel even worse. -J. D. Salinger
The worst feeling in life is when you can’t have a proper goodbye. If you’re leaving a place with the hope of coming back but you cannot due to circumstances, that feeling of missing a goodbye is the worst.
13 If you do something too good, then, after a while, if you don’t watch it, you start showing off. And then you’re not as good any more. -J. D. Salinger
If you’ve done something good, then it’s best to stay humble about it. Boasting about things and showing off doesn’t make you a good person.
14 Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. -J. D. Salinger
When you open up to someone, you form a connection with them. But, if they leave you, you start missing them immensely and it breaks you to pieces.
15 I’m always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to someone I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though. -J. D. Salinger
Sometimes in life, you’ll have to act like you really like someone even when you don’t. That’s the kind of thing that you have to do to seem acceptable and likable.
15 Best The Catcher In The Rye Quotes by J. D. Salinger
1. Among other things, you’ll find that you’re not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. -J. D. Salinger
2. I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It’s nice. -J. D. Salinger
3. The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one. -J. D. Salinger
4. It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to. -J. D. Salinger
5. People are always ruining things for you. -J. D. Salinger
6. Certain things, they should stay the way they are. -J. D. Salinger
7. All morons hate it when you call them a moron. -J.D Salinger
8. Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules – J. D Salinger
9. Catholics are always trying to find out if you’re Catholic. -J. D Salinger
10. I said old Jesus probably would’ve puked if He could see it—all those fancy costumes and all. -J. D. Salinger
11. What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours. J. D Salinger
12. I don’t care if it’s a sad good-bye or a bad good-bye, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t, you feel even worse. -J. D. Salinger
13. If you do something too good, then, after a while, if you don’t watch it, you start showing off. And then you’re not as good any more. -J. D. Salinger
14. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. -J. D. Salinger
15. I’m always saying “Glad to’ve met you” to someone I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though. -J. D. Salinger