--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I suppose it is just about impossible for…" description: "\"“I suppose it is just about impossible for someone like me to rebel anymore and produce any kind of lasting effect. I have lost the power to upset thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/joseph-heller-601_rebel_i-suppose-it-is-just-about-impossible-fo_2868943.png" --- # I suppose it is just about impossible for someone like me… ![“I suppose it is just about impossible for someone like me to rebel anymore and produce any kind of lasting effect. I have lost the power to upset things that I had as a child; I can no longer change my environment or even disturb it seriously.” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/joseph-heller-601_rebel_i-suppose-it-is-just-about-impossible-fo_2868943.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/joseph-heller-601_rebel_i-suppose-it-is-just-about-impossible-fo_2868943.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/joseph-heller-601_rebel_i-suppose-it-is-just-about-impossible-fo_2868943.png) > ““I suppose it is just about impossible for someone like me to rebel anymore and produce any kind of lasting effect. I have lost the power to upset things that I had as a child; I can no longer change my environment or even disturb it seriously.”” [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Feeling powerless to effect change leads to resignation, believing one cannot influence the world. **In simple terms:** Powerlessness breeds resignation. Key Takeaway Seek agency despite perceived limits. Themes powerlessness rebellion existentialism agency Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political activism - personal growth - community organizing Key Concepts determinism social activism Questions to Reflect On - What small actions can restore a sense of power? - How to mobilize others for change? A Different Perspective Change often requires collective effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Rebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) ## Related quotes > [One blob of red in the wrong place and the audience isn't looking at the hero, they're looking at a patch of curtain (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-fisher/one-blob-of-red-in-the-wrong-place-and-the-audience-isn-t-looking-at/) [Terence Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-fisher/) > [I feel like a rebel in fighting all the negative views of China in the U.S.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/i-feel-like-a-rebel-in-fighting-all-the-negative-views-of-china-in/) [Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/) > [People talk to me a lot about, "Why don't you ever rebel?" And I feel like I do rebel. To me, rebelling is -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-swift/people-talk-to-me-a-lot-about-why-don-t-you-ever-rebel-and-i-feel/) [Taylor Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-swift/) > [ The ultimate moment where I most felt like a rebel was in St. Petersburg, Russia \[in 2012 during the MDNA Tour\] when I was… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-ultimate-moment-where-i-most-felt-like-a-rebel-was-in-st/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I didn't understand at the time why Vince was so interested in teaching me life lessons when all I was trying to do was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jericho/i-didn-t-understand-at-the-time-why-vince-was-so-interested-in/) [Chris Jericho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jericho/) > [My fans like the rebel in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-trevi/my-fans-like-the-rebel-in-me/) [Gloria Trevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-trevi/) > [I couldn't really be a part of high school, because I have a terrible time doing things that I don't want to do. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-couldn-t-really-be-a-part-of-high-school-because-i-have-a-terrible/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) > [I was never a skilled artist or anything like that - never a rebel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-oppenheimer/i-was-never-a-skilled-artist-or-anything-like-that-never-a-rebel/) [Nicky Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-oppenheimer/) > [“So you like me because I can think like a rebel, but I act like a good girl?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-reinhardt/so-you-like-me-because-i-can-think-like-a-rebel-but-i-act-like-a-good/) [Liz Reinhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-reinhardt/) > [I dug the idea that I was being perceived as the black sheep of my family, but for me, it was like, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-bishop/i-dug-the-idea-that-i-was-being-perceived-as-the-black-sheep-of-my/) [Larry Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-bishop/) > [Is it saying something when my friends are all like you should rebel sometimes get in trouble you always do the right things yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubblehead/is-it-saying-something-when-my-friends-are-all-like-you-should-rebel/) Bubblehead > [I'm a freak when it comes to holding on the ground; it's just almost impossible holding me on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-volkanovski/i-m-a-freak-when-it-comes-to-holding-on-the-ground-it-s-just-almost/) [Alexander Volkanovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-volkanovski/) > [If I had the hand strength to sign autographs for everybody in Kansas City, I would... but its just impossible to get to everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-hall/if-i-had-the-hand-strength-to-sign-autographs-for-everybody-in-kansas/) [Dante Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-hall/) > [It is impossible to separate works from faith- yea, just as impossible as to separate burning and shining from fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-impossible-to-separate-works-from-faith-yea-just-as-impossible/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Impossible Is Just Impossible".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/behnam-rajabpoor/impossible-is-just-impossible/) [Behnam Rajabpoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/behnam-rajabpoor/) ## More by Joseph Heller > [“Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle. "That's some catch, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-very-deeply-by-the-absolute-simplicity-of-this/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/from-men-motivated-by-moral-certitude-history-teaches-no-lasting-good/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I’m cold,' Snowden said softly, 'I’m cold.' 'You’re going to be all right, kid,' Yossarian reassured him with a grin. 'You’re going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-cold-snowden-said-softly-i-m-cold-you-re-going-to-be-all-right/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [The enemy is anybody who's going to get you killed, no matter which side he's on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/the-enemy-is-anybody-who-s-going-to-get-you-killed-no-matter-which/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“They think that they’re smart and that the rest of us are dumb.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-think-that-they-re-smart-and-that-the-rest-of-us-are-dumb/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/there-was-only-one-catch-and-that-was-catch-22-which-specified-that-a/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Captain Flume was obsessed with the idea that Chief White Halfoat would tiptoe up to his cot one night when he was sound asleep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/captain-flume-was-obsessed-with-the-idea-that-chief-white-halfoat/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Depreciating motels, junked automobiles, and quick-food joints grow like amber waves of grain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/depreciating-motels-junked-automobiles-and-quick-food-joints-grow/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“That was where he wanted to be if he had to be there at all, instead of hung out there in front like some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/that-was-where-he-wanted-to-be-if-he-had-to-be-there-at-all-instead/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I had examined myself pretty thoroughly and discovered that I was unfit for military service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-had-examined-myself-pretty-thoroughly-and-discovered-that-i-was/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Yossarian was moved by such intense pity for his poverty that he wanted to smash his pale. sad, sickly face with his fist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/yossarian-was-moved-by-such-intense-pity-for-his-poverty-that-he/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [You have deep-seated survival anxieties. And you don't like bigots, bullies, snobs or hypocrites. Subconsciously there are many people you hate." "Consciously, sir, consciously,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/you-have-deep-seated-survival-anxieties-and-you-don-t-like-bigots/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/his-specialty-was-alfalfa-and-he-made-a-good-thing-out-of-not-growing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Every writer I know has trouble writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/every-writer-i-know-has-trouble-writing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“No such private nights of ecstasy or hushed-up drinking and sex orgies ever occurred. They might have occurred if either General Dreedle or General…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/no-such-private-nights-of-ecstasy-or-hushed-up-drinking-and-sex/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) [Explore all 420 Joseph Heller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) ## More Rebel quotes > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [Hey, her mind is on a different level Plus the teachers couldn't reach her, always been a rebel Hit the club, watch out boy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-cole/hey-her-mind-is-on-a-different-level-plus-the-teachers-couldn-t-reach/) [Kendrick Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-cole/) > [Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith. But what do we remember him for? His volunteer work. All activism is volunteering in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-j-ellis/paul-revere-earned-his-living-as-a-silversmith-but-what-do-we/) Susan J. Ellis > [“...but fame didn’t suit you, you compromised, a renegade rebel, you gave me your eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-j-ginger/but-fame-didn-t-suit-you-you-compromised-a-renegade-rebel-you-gave-me/) Coco J. Ginger > [“I know that a lot of Christian kids rebel. But as I said earlier, I'm convinced that most of them don't really want to.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kimmel/i-know-that-a-lot-of-christian-kids-rebel-but-as-i-said-earlier-i-m/) [Tim Kimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kimmel/) > [Persecution matures young rebels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-suyin/persecution-matures-young-rebels/) [Han Suyin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-suyin/) > [“I didn’t know yet that to be a rebel you have to be willing to lose everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-kain/i-didn-t-know-yet-that-to-be-a-rebel-you-have-to-be-willing-to-lose/) [Logan Kain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/logan-kain/) > [ \[Eugene Smith\] was always writing these diatribes about truth, and how he wanted to tell the truth, the truth, the truth. It was a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-clark/eugene-smith-was-always-writing-these-diatribes-about-truth-and-how/) [Larry Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-clark/) > [When it comes to the street-art world, there are a lot of people who realize if they go out and put up a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shepard-fairey/when-it-comes-to-the-street-art-world-there-are-a-lot-of-people-who/) [Shepard Fairey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shepard-fairey/) > [While my dad is a rebel at heart, I am a conformist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivaan-shah/while-my-dad-is-a-rebel-at-heart-i-am-a-conformist/) Vivaan Shah > [Every woman is a rebel, and usually in wild revolt against herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/every-woman-is-a-rebel-and-usually-in-wild-revolt-against-herself/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [God's wrath is not an implacable, blind rage. However emotional it may be, it is an entirely reasonable and willed response to offenses against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-carson/god-s-wrath-is-not-an-implacable-blind-rage-however-emotional-it-may/) [D. A. Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-carson/) > [I think that no matter whether you're Quentin Tarantino or any other kind of a rebel, or whatever, everyone who makes movies still wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-osborne/i-think-that-no-matter-whether-you-re-quentin-tarantino-or-any-other/) [Robert Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-osborne/) > [“This was a true pants-pooping moment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-katt/this-was-a-true-pants-pooping-moment/) [Dinah Katt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-katt/) [Browse all 1,054 Rebel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I suppose it is just about impossible for someone like me to rebel anymore and produce any kind of lasting effect. 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