Best Quotes From The Catcher In The Rye

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is a classic novel that has inspired countless readers over the years. Here are the top 99 quotes from the book:

1. “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”
2. “I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”
3. “People never notice anything.”
4. “All morons hate it when you call them a moron.”
5. “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”
6. “I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it.”
7. “I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.”
8. “Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.”
9. “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 and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.”
10. “Anyway, I’m sort of glad they’ve got the atomic bomb invented. If there’s ever another war, I’m going to sit right the hell on top of it. I’ll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.”
11. “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.”
12. “People always clap for the wrong things.”
13. “I’m quite touchy about anything like that, especially my father. I don’t even like to talk about him.”
14. “I’m crazy. I swear to God I am.”
15. “I’m not too sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, I mean, once I get out of school and all.”
16. “I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.”
17. “I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.”
18. “I’m the king of the castle. You’re the dirty rascal.”
19. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
20. “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.”
21. “All of a sudden, I felt like I was losing my mind or something.”
22. “It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.”
23. “I’m the type who’d be happy not going anywhere as long as I was sure I knew exactly what was happening at the places I wasn’t going to.”
24. “I don’t even know what I was running for—I guess I just felt like it.”
25. “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.”
26. “I can’t talk to you without shaking my head.”
27. “I have a feeling that you’re riding for some kind of a terrible, terrible fall.”
28. “I was trying to feel some kind of a good-by.”
29. “I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”>
30. “I’m not kidding. You could blindfold me and shove me in a smoking room and I’d sniff my way to the door in two seconds.”
31. “I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”
32. “I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.”
33. “I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m absolutely afraid of losing my mind.”
34. “I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It’s nice.”
35. “I’m sorry I told so many people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about.”
36. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to have met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
37. “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”
38. “It’s funny. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.”
39. “I’m the only one left, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
40. “I don’t even like old cars. I mean they don’t even interest me.”
41. “I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”
42. “I’m not too sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, I mean, once I get out of school and all.”
43. “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.”
44. “I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m absolutely afraid of losing my mind.”
45. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to have met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
46. “I don’t even know what I was running for—I guess I just felt like it.”
47. “I’m not too sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, I mean, once I get out of school and all.”
48. “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”
49. “I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.”
50. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to have met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
51. “It’s funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they’ll do practically anything you want them to.”
52. “I’m not too sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, I mean, once I get out of school and all.”
53. “I’m the king of the castle. You’re the dirty rascal.”
54. “I can’t talk to you without shaking my head.”
55. “I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m absolutely afraid of losing my mind.”
56. “I’m quite illiterate, but I read a lot.”
57. “I’m sorry I told so many people about it. About all I know is, I sort of miss everybody I told about.”
58. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to have met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
59. “I’m the only one left, and I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do.”
60. “I don’t even like old cars. I mean they don’t even interest me.”
61. “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.”
62. “I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.”
63. “I don’t exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it.”
64. “People never notice anything.”
65. “I’m quite touchy about anything like that, especially my father. I don’t even like to talk about him.”
66. “I’m crazy. I swear to God I am.”
67. “Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.”
68. “I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them.”
69. “People always clap for the wrong things.”
70. “I’m sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.”
71. “I’m not too sure what I’m supposed to do with my life, I mean, once I get out of school and all.”
72. “I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.”
73. “I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.”
74. “I’m the king of the castle. You’re the dirty rascal.”
75. “I’m always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.”
76. “What really knocks me out is a book that, when you’re all done reading it