--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man was matter. Drop him out of a window…" description: "\"“Man was matter. Drop him out of a window and he'll fall. Set fire to him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot, like other kinds of garbage.”\" — Jose..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/joseph-heller-601_burn_man-was-matter-drop-him-out-of-a-window_618284.png" --- # Man was matter. Drop him out of a window and he'll fall… ![“Man was matter. Drop him out of a window and he'll fall. Set fire to him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot, like other kinds of garbage.” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/joseph-heller-601_burn_man-was-matter-drop-him-out-of-a-window_618284.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/joseph-heller-601_burn_man-was-matter-drop-him-out-of-a-window_618284.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c72/joseph-heller-601_burn_man-was-matter-drop-him-out-of-a-window_618284.png) > ““Man was matter. Drop him out of a window and he'll fall. Set fire to him and he'll burn. Bury him and he'll rot, like other kinds of garbage.”” [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. Human beings are physical bodies subject to natural laws; no matter the treatment, they will die, decompose, or be destroyed like any other material. **In simple terms:** People are material, not magical. Key Takeaway Recognize mortality and treat others with humility. Themes mortality materialism humility Mood reflective somber Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - death - disaster response - environmental cleanup - ethical debates about treatment of bodies Key Concepts existentialism nihilism human condition Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities arise from knowing we are finite? A Different Perspective Does focusing on materiality diminish the value of human life? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn/) [Burn Bury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burn-bury-1249317/) [Ll Burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ll-burn/) [Man Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-matter-612957/) [Rot Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rot-like-3960223/) ## Related quotes > [. . . my bones they'll burn or bury. 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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. 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