--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would they do to me,\" he asked in…" description: "\"What would they do to me,\" he asked in confidential tones, \"if I refused to fly them?\" We'd probably shoot you,\" ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen replied. We?\" Yo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/joseph-heller-601_confidential_what-would-they-do-to-me-he-asked-in-con_3074873.png" --- # What would they do to me," he asked in confidential tones… ![“What would they do to me," he asked in confidential tones, "if I refused to fly them?" We'd probably shoot you," ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen replied. We?" Yossarian cried in surprise. "What do you mean, we? Since when are you on their side?" If you're going to be shot, whose side do you expect me to be…” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/joseph-heller-601_confidential_what-would-they-do-to-me-he-asked-in-con_3074873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/joseph-heller-601_confidential_what-would-they-do-to-me-he-asked-in-con_3074873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51b/joseph-heller-601_confidential_what-would-they-do-to-me-he-asked-in-con_3074873.png) > “What would they do to me," he asked in confidential tones, "if I refused to fly them?" We'd probably shoot you," ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen replied. We?" Yossarian cried in surprise. "What do you mean, we? Since when are you on their side?" If you're going to be shot, whose side do you expect me to be on?" ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen retorted” [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 dialogue highlights the absurdity of wartime loyalty and the paradox of being forced to choose sides under threat. **In simple terms:** War forces impossible choices and absurd loyalties. Key Takeaway Question authority and seek clarity. Themes war absurdity loyalty conflict authority Mood tense ironic critical Type literary dialogue satire When to use this quote - combat decision - ethical debate - personal survival - group pressure Key Concepts Moral dilemma paradox military hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What does loyalty mean when survival is at stake? - How do threats shape our sense of right and wrong? A Different Perspective The quote assumes clear sides exist, ignoring moral complexity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exes/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Yossarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yossarian/) ## Related quotes > [Now we just need to find someone who is close to the king but is really a spy for Mydogg." "That should be easy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-we-just-need-to-find-someone-who-is-close-to-the-king-but-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Morale was deteriorating and it was all Yossarian's fault. The country was in peril; he was jeopardizing his traditional rights of freedom and independence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/morale-was-deteriorating-and-it-was-all-yossarian-s-fault-the-country/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Her own body was such a familiar and unremarkable thing to her that she was puzzled by the convulsive ecstasy men could take from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/her-own-body-was-such-a-familiar-and-unremarkable-thing-to-her-that/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [They can do anything we can't stop them from doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/they-can-do-anything-we-can-t-stop-them-from-doing/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Who's they?" He wanted to know. "Who, specifically, do you think is trying to murder you?" "Every one of them," Yossarian told him. "Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifically-do-you-think-is-trying/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [I’m not running away from my responsibilities. I’m running to them. There’s nothing negative about running away to save my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-m-not-running-away-from-my-responsibilities-i-m-running-to-them/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“Four times during the first six days they were assembled and briefed and then sent back. Once, they took off and were flying in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/four-times-during-the-first-six-days-they-were-assembled-and-briefed/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Actually there were many officers' clubs that Yossarian had not helped build, but he was proudest of the one on Pianosa. 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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/) > [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/) ## 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. 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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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In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/working-on-an-adaptation-is-not-as-satisfying-because-it-s-not-your/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [He was an author whose works were so well known as to be almost confidential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-walker/he-was-an-author-whose-works-were-so-well-known-as-to-be-almost/) Stanley Walker > [There are, in the King case in particular, e names of confidential informants, persons to whom we promised confidentiality in return for their testimony.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-stokes/there-are-in-the-king-case-in-particular-e-names-of-confidential/) [Louis Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-stokes/) > [You do not walk into any hearing or committee meeting and reveal confidential communications with the president of the United States, who's entitled to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sessions/you-do-not-walk-into-any-hearing-or-committee-meeting-and-reveal/) [Jeff Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sessions/) > [The Enemy, who wears her mother's usual face and confidential tone, has access; doubtless stares into her writing case and listens on the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-mcginley/the-enemy-who-wears-her-mother-s-usual-face-and-confidential-tone-has/) [Phyllis McGinley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-mcginley/) > [Brilliant. . . . 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I guess I write for dead actors. I'll think of like, you know, Burt Lancaster…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/i-don-t-really-write-with-living-actors-in-mind-i-guess-i-write-for/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) Browse all 90 Confidential quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What would they do to me,\" he asked in confidential tones, \"if I refused to fly them?\" We'd probably shoot you,\" ex-P.F.C. Wintergreen replied. We?\" Yossarian cried in surprise. \"What do you mean, we? Since when are you on their side?\" If you're going to be shot, whose side do you expect me to be on?\" ex-P.F.C. 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