--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who's they?\" He wanted to know. \"Who…" description: "\"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 one of whom?..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg" --- # Who's they?" He wanted to know. "Who, specifically, do you… ![“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 one of whom?" "Every one of whom do you think?" "I haven't any idea." "Then how do you know they aren't?" "Because..." Clevinger sputtered, and turned…” quote by Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg) > “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 one of whom?" "Every one of whom do you think?" "I haven't any idea." "Then how do you know they aren't?" "Because..." Clevinger sputtered, and turned speechless with frustration. Clevinger really thought he was right, but Yossarian had proof, because strangers he didn't know shot at him with cannons every time he flew up into the air to drop bombs on them, and it wasn't funny at all.” [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 passage shows the absurdity of trying to identify a vague enemy, highlighting the paradox of fear without knowledge. **In simple terms:** Fear of unknown enemies creates confusion. Key Takeaway Question assumptions before acting. Themes absurdity war uncertainty Mood confused tense reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - combat missions - intelligence analysis - decision making under stress - trust building Key Concepts existentialism paradox military bureaucracy Questions to Reflect On - How do you act when you cannot identify the threat? - What evidence do you need before trusting your instincts? A Different Perspective The dialogue may oversimplify complex threats, ignoring nuanced intelligence work. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/air/) [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Cannons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cannons/) [Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flew/) [Frustration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frustration/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Murder Yossarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-yossarian-5070223/) [Paranoia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paranoia/) [Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proof/) [Shots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shots/) [Speechless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speechless/) [Stranger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stranger/) [Strangers Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangers-didn-2543803/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Turned Speechless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turned-speechless-4469224/) [Wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanted/) [Yossarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yossarian/) [Yossarian Proof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yossarian-proof-1219989/) [Yossarian Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yossarian-told-5070224/) ## Related quotes > [“Clevinger really thought he was right, but Yossarian had proof, because strangers he didn’t know shot at him with cannons every time he flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/clevinger-really-thought-he-was-right-but-yossarian-had-proof-because/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [Has my tale turned you speechless? 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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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Clevinger really thought he was right, but Yossarian had proof, because strangers he didn't know shot at him with cannons every time he flew up into the air to drop bombs on them, and it wasn't funny at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Heller" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifically-do-you-think-is-trying/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Air" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifically-do-you-think-is-trying/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/joseph-heller-601_air_who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifi_628402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Who's they?\" He wanted to know. \"Who, specifically, do you think is trying to murder you?\" \"Every one of…” — Joseph Heller", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joseph Heller", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Who's they?\" He wanted to know....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifically-do-you-think-is-trying/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/who-s-they-he-wanted-to-know-who-specifically-do-you-think-is-trying/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```