--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no light. I don't feel like…" description: "\"“There is no light. I don't feel like starting my generator. I used to get a big kick out saving people's lives. Now I wonder what the hell's the point..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/joseph-heller-601_classics_there-is-no-light-i-don-t-feel-like-star_496464.png" --- # There is no light. I don't feel like starting my… ![“There is no light. I don't feel like starting my generator. I used to get a big kick out saving people's lives. Now I wonder what the hell's the point, since they all have to die anyway.Dr. Stubbs Catch -22” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/joseph-heller-601_classics_there-is-no-light-i-don-t-feel-like-star_496464.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/joseph-heller-601_classics_there-is-no-light-i-don-t-feel-like-star_496464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8b/joseph-heller-601_classics_there-is-no-light-i-don-t-feel-like-star_496464.png) > ““There is no light. I don't feel like starting my generator. I used to get a big kick out saving people's lives. Now I wonder what the hell's the point, since they all have to die anyway.Dr. Stubbs Catch -22”” [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. The narrator expresses existential despair, feeling that efforts to save lives are futile because death is inevitable. **In simple terms:** Feeling hopeless about making a difference. Key Takeaway Acknowledge limits but still act with compassion. Themes existentialism war nihilism Mood cynical somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - combat zones - healthcare crises - emergency response - personal burnout Key Concepts meaninglessness moral fatigue Questions to Reflect On - How can one find purpose amid inevitable loss? - What motivates continued service despite futility? A Different Perspective Even if outcomes seem predetermined, small acts still matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Classics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) ## Related quotes > [“I used to get a big kick out of saving people’s lives. Now I wonder what the hell’s the point, since they all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-used-to-get-a-big-kick-out-of-saving-people-s-lives-now-i-wonder/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“You didn't know how to live under my light? I don't have a light anymore unless you're there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-callihan/you-didn-t-know-how-to-live-under-my-light-i-don-t-have-a-light/) [Kristen Callihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-callihan/) > [Maybe I have this fascination with the dark side because I live in the light. I don't have any dysfunction, and I've never experienced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-unger/maybe-i-have-this-fascination-with-the-dark-side-because-i-live-in/) [Lisa Unger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-unger/) > [Light it ,don't hide it!divide it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ogeekush76/light-it-don-t-hide-it-divide-it/) Ogeekush76 > [I walk light so I don't piss the ground off!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/i-walk-light-so-i-don-t-piss-the-ground-off/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [If you're spreading light, you don't care where the sunshine goes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelly-furtado/if-you-re-spreading-light-you-don-t-care-where-the-sunshine-goes/) [Nelly Furtado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelly-furtado/) > [“To some degree...he has the same effect on people. People naturally flock to him. It's like he's giving off a light that I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuki-takaya/to-some-degree-he-has-the-same-effect-on-people-people-naturally/) [Natsuki Takaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuki-takaya/) > [A lot of actors think that what we do is so important, like we're saving people's lives or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-stewart/a-lot-of-actors-think-that-what-we-do-is-so-important-like-we-re/) [Kristen Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-stewart/) > [Musicians - we're not doctors. We're not saving people's lives. We're not going out and changing the world. We're not coming up with cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-fender/musicians-we-re-not-doctors-we-re-not-saving-people-s-lives-we-re-not/) [Sam Fender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-fender/) > [I see no conflict between saving people's lives and defending the Second Amendment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-see-no-conflict-between-saving-people-s-lives-and-defending-the/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Saving people, hunting things, the family business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-winchester-jensen-ackles/saving-people-hunting-things-the-family-business/) Dean Winchester Jensen Ackles > [No: war material is life-saving for one's own people and whoever works and performs in these spheres can be proud of it; here enterprise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-war-material-is-life-saving-for-one-s-own-people-and-whoever-works/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You just go around acting like you’re saving other people so you don’t have to deal with your own problems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tharp/you-just-go-around-acting-like-you-re-saving-other-people-so-you-don/) [Tim Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tharp/) > [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) > [“People do not need saving. People need love, support, and encouragement that they can withstand any trials and will always come out stronger, wiser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-l-weiss/people-do-not-need-saving-people-need-love-support-and-encouragement/) [Brian L. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-l-weiss/) ## 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 Classics quotes > [I was interested in all kinds of things, whether it be Avatar, Mad Men, Troy, 300, Battlestar Gallactica, or the poems of Horace and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mendelsohn/i-was-interested-in-all-kinds-of-things-whether-it-be-avatar-mad-men/) [Daniel Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mendelsohn/) > [“So it is that in our world hopes are thwarted at every turn and the people's lot is always pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royall-tyler/so-it-is-that-in-our-world-hopes-are-thwarted-at-every-turn-and-the/) Royall Tyler > [It's so important your customer can rely on you for your classics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/it-s-so-important-your-customer-can-rely-on-you-for-your-classics/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [Professors of classics - not even a professor of English - professors of classics, they're something sacred; it's almost like being a priest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-segal/professors-of-classics-not-even-a-professor-of-english-professors-of/) [Erich Segal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-segal/) > [“You don't know what your life is, nor what you're doing, nor who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/you-don-t-know-what-your-life-is-nor-what-you-re-doing-nor-who-you-are/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [I like a lot of movies. I like all types of genres. I like the classics - comedy, action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-green/i-like-a-lot-of-movies-i-like-all-types-of-genres-i-like-the-classics/) [Danny Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-green/) > [“Poirot, watching him, felt suddenly a doubt--an uncomfortable twinge. Was there, here, something that he had missed? Some richness of the spirit? Sadness crept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/poirot-watching-him-felt-suddenly-a-doubt-an-uncomfortable-twinge-was/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“A classic is read not to enjoy but only to be boast about it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aman-jassal/a-classic-is-read-not-to-enjoy-but-only-to-be-boast-about-it/) [Aman Jassal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aman-jassal/) > [“Betsy was so full of joy that she had to be alone. She went upstairs to her bedroom and sat down on Uncle Keith's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maud-hart-lovelace/betsy-was-so-full-of-joy-that-she-had-to-be-alone-she-went-upstairs/) [Maud Hart Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maud-hart-lovelace/) > [“You are too generous to trifle with me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/you-are-too-generous-to-trifle-with-me/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [“Don't play with others, or at one day, you will be played by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-ejaz/don-t-play-with-others-or-at-one-day-you-will-be-played-by-others/) Usama Ejaz > [“Sin is the only real colour-element left in modern life.' 'You really must not say things like that before Dorian, Harry.' 'Before which Dorian?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/sin-is-the-only-real-colour-element-left-in-modern-life-you-really/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“They always looked back before turning the corner, for their mother was always at the window to nod and smile, and wave her hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/they-always-looked-back-before-turning-the-corner-for-their-mother/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I can trace my interest in modern classics to the summer before art college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-healey/i-can-trace-my-interest-in-modern-classics-to-the-summer-before-art/) [Emma Healey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-healey/) > [“Those who have not learned to read the ancient classics in the language in which they were written must have a very imperfect knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/those-who-have-not-learned-to-read-the-ancient-classics-in-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 314 Classics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There is no light. 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