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145 Most Famous Quotes By J. D. Salinger, The Author Of The Catcher In The Rye

Famous As: American Author Best Known for His Novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'
Born On: January 1, 1919
Died On: January 27, 2010
Born In: Manhattan, New York, United States
Died At Age: 91

JD Salinger is best remembered as the author of the bestselling novel, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. A tale of an adolescent boy Holden Caulfield, who loses his innocence and becomes alienated, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ remains one of the most widely read and controversial novels till date, selling about 250,000 copies every year. The book singularly vaulted Salinger to the peak of his literary career. Though the book brought Salinger much fame and recognition, it also put him in limelight and gained him public attention, a fact that he despised as he was a private man. Though JD Salinger did not pen much work in lifetime, just a handful collection of short stories, and novellas, he became one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. His writing style was unique, as he incorporated interior monologue, letters, and extended telephone calls, dialogue in his works to establish a connection between his characters and his readers. Just as popular is Salinger’s line of work including novels, novellas and short stories same are his quotes that give an insight into life and living. Sneak peek into this section and get enthused by some of the best known quotes by Salinger.

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Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.

Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.

J. D. Salinger
I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.

I'm quite illiterate, but I read a lot.

J. D. Salinger
I'm sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.

I'm sick of just liking people. I wish to God I could meet somebody I could respect.

J. D. Salinger
I am always saying

I am always saying "Glad to've met you" to somebody I'm not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.

J. D. Salinger
I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice.

I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice.

J. D. Salinger
The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.

The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.

J. D. Salinger
Mothers are all slightly insane.

Mothers are all slightly insane.

J. D. Salinger
I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.

I'm sick of not having the courage to be an absolute nobody.

J. D. Salinger
It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

It's funny. All you have to do is say something nobody understands and they'll do practically anything you want them to.

J. D. Salinger
And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up.

And I have one of those very loud, stupid laughs. I mean if I ever sat behind myself in a movie or something, I'd probably lean over and tell myself to please shut up.

J. D. Salinger
I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it.

I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it.

J. D. Salinger
Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.

Certain things, they should stay the way they are. You ought to be able to stick them in one of those big glass cases and just leave them alone.

J. D. Salinger
People are always ruining things for you.

People are always ruining things for you.

J. D. Salinger
When you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write

When you're not looking, somebody'll sneak up and write "Fuck you" right under your nose.

J. D. Salinger
All morons hate it when you call them a moron.

All morons hate it when you call them a moron.

J. D. Salinger
I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy.

I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be. I know it's crazy.

J. D. Salinger
If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late?

If a girl looks swell when she meets you, who gives a damn if she's late?

J. D. Salinger
She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.

She wasn't doing a thing that I could see, except standing there leaning on the balcony railing, holding the universe together.

J. D. Salinger
People never notice anything.

People never notice anything.

J. D. Salinger
People always clap for the wrong reasons.

People always clap for the wrong reasons.

J. D. Salinger
And I can't be running back and fourth forever between grief and high delight.

And I can't be running back and fourth forever between grief and high delight.

J. D. Salinger
I'm a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.

I'm a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy.

J. D. Salinger
An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.

An artist's only concern is to shoot for some kind of perfection, and on his own terms, not anyone else's.

J. D. Salinger
If you do something too good, then, after a while, if you don't watch it, you start showing off. And then you're not as good any more.

If you do something too good, then, after a while, if you don't watch it, you start showing off. And then you're not as good any more.

J. D. Salinger
Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it.

Grand. There's a word I really hate. It's a phony. I could puke every time I hear it.

J. D. Salinger
Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad.

Almost every time somebody gives me a present, it ends up making me sad.

J. D. Salinger
It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road.

It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing every time you crossed a road.

J. D. Salinger
The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid.

The fact is always obvious much too late, but the most singular difference between happiness and joy is that happiness is a solid and joy a liquid.

J. D. Salinger
If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the

If you had a million years to do it in, you couldn't rub out even half the "Fuck you" signs in the world. It's impossible.

J. D. Salinger
Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.

Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.

J. D. Salinger
I can be quite sarcastic when I'm in the mood.

I can be quite sarcastic when I'm in the mood.

J. D. Salinger
I love you to pieces, distraction, etc.

I love you to pieces, distraction, etc.

J. D. Salinger
I don't know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesn't make you happy.

I don't know what good it is to know so much and be smart as whips and all if it doesn't make you happy.

J. D. Salinger
Poets are always taking the weather so personally. They're always sticking their emotions in things that have no emotions.

Poets are always taking the weather so personally. They're always sticking their emotions in things that have no emotions.

J. D. Salinger
Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.

Goddam money. It always ends up making you blue as hell.

J. D. Salinger
I think that one of these days,

I think that one of these days," he said, "you're going to have to find out where you want to go. And then you've got to start going there. But immediately. You can't afford to lose a minute. Not you.

J. D. Salinger
I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.

I can’t explain what I mean. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d feel like it.

J. D. Salinger
Sleep tight, ya morons!

Sleep tight, ya morons!

J. D. Salinger
It's partly true, too, but it isn't all true. People always think something's all true.

It's partly true, too, but it isn't all true. People always think something's all true.

J. D. Salinger
Ask her if she still keeps all her kings in the back row.

Ask her if she still keeps all her kings in the back row.

J. D. Salinger
I don’t give a damn, except that I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age. Sometimes I act a lot older than I am - I really do - but people never notice it. People never notice anything.

I don’t give a damn, except that I get bored sometimes when people tell me to act my age. Sometimes I act a lot older than I am - I really do - but people never notice it. People never notice anything.

J. D. Salinger
I have scars on my hands from touching certain people…Certain heads, certain colours and textures of human hair leave permanent marks on me.

I have scars on my hands from touching certain people…Certain heads, certain colours and textures of human hair leave permanent marks on me.

J. D. Salinger
You don't know how to talk to people you don't like. Don't love, really. You can't live in the world with such strong likes and dislikes.

You don't know how to talk to people you don't like. Don't love, really. You can't live in the world with such strong likes and dislikes.

J. D. Salinger
It's not too bad when the sun's out, but the sun only comes out when it feels like coming out.

It's not too bad when the sun's out, but the sun only comes out when it feels like coming out.

J. D. Salinger
This is a people shooting hat,

This is a people shooting hat," I said. "I shoot people in this hat.

J. D. Salinger
I don't even know what I was running for—I guess I just felt like it.

I don't even know what I was running for—I guess I just felt like it.

J. D. Salinger
But what I mean is, lots of time you don’t know what interests you most till you start talking about something that doesn’t interest you most. I mean you can’t help it sometimes.

But what I mean is, lots of time you don’t know what interests you most till you start talking about something that doesn’t interest you most. I mean you can’t help it sometimes.

J. D. Salinger
She was not one for emptying her face of expression.

She was not one for emptying her face of expression.

J. D. Salinger
You're lucky if you get time to sneeze in this goddam phenomenal world.

You're lucky if you get time to sneeze in this goddam phenomenal world.

J. D. Salinger
Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.

Anyway, I'm sort of glad they've got the atomic bomb invented. If there's ever another war, I'm going to sit right the hell on top of it. I'll volunteer for it, I swear to God I will.

J. D. Salinger
Who wants flowers when youre dead? nobody.

Who wants flowers when youre dead? nobody.

J. D. Salinger
It's really too bad that so much crumby stuff is a lot of fun sometimes.

It's really too bad that so much crumby stuff is a lot of fun sometimes.

J. D. Salinger
It always smelled like it was raining outside, even if it wasn't, and you were in the only nice, dry, cosy place in the world.

It always smelled like it was raining outside, even if it wasn't, and you were in the only nice, dry, cosy place in the world.

J. D. Salinger
If you weren't around, I'd probably be someplace way the hell off. In the woods or some goddamn place. You're the only reason I'm around, practically.

If you weren't around, I'd probably be someplace way the hell off. In the woods or some goddamn place. You're the only reason I'm around, practically.

J. D. Salinger
That's the whole trouble. When you're feeling very depressed, you can't even think.

That's the whole trouble. When you're feeling very depressed, you can't even think.

J. D. Salinger
I privately say to you, old friend... please accept from me this unpretentious bouquet of early-blooming parentheses: (((()))).

I privately say to you, old friend... please accept from me this unpretentious bouquet of early-blooming parentheses: (((()))).

J. D. Salinger
Don't tell people what you are thinking, or you will miss them terribly when you are away.

Don't tell people what you are thinking, or you will miss them terribly when you are away.

J. D. Salinger
If I were God, I certainly wouldn't want people to love me sentimentally. It's too unreliable.

If I were God, I certainly wouldn't want people to love me sentimentally. It's too unreliable.

J. D. Salinger
You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it.

You can't stop a teacher when they want to do something. They just do it.

J. D. Salinger
I’ll read my books and I’ll drink coffee and I’ll listen to music, and I’ll bolt the door.

I’ll read my books and I’ll drink coffee and I’ll listen to music, and I’ll bolt the door." ( A Boy in France : Saturday Evening Post CCXVII, March 31, 1945)

J. D. Salinger
Sometimes I see me dead in the rain.

Sometimes I see me dead in the rain.

J. D. Salinger
I wouldn't exactly describe her as strictly beautiful. She knocked me out, though.

I wouldn't exactly describe her as strictly beautiful. She knocked me out, though.

J. D. Salinger
She said she knew she was able to fly because when she came down she always had dust on her fingers from touching the light bulbs.

She said she knew she was able to fly because when she came down she always had dust on her fingers from touching the light bulbs.

J. D. Salinger
If you sat around there long enough and heard all the phonies applauding and all, you got to hate everybody in the world, I swear you did.

If you sat around there long enough and heard all the phonies applauding and all, you got to hate everybody in the world, I swear you did.

J. D. Salinger
I don't really deeply feel that anyone needs an airtight reason for quoting from the works of the writers he loves, but it's always nice, I'll grant you, if he has one.

I don't really deeply feel that anyone needs an airtight reason for quoting from the works of the writers he loves, but it's always nice, I'll grant you, if he has one.

J. D. Salinger
But I'm Crazy. I swear to God I am.

But I'm Crazy. I swear to God I am.

J. D. Salinger
Your heart, Bessie, is an autumn garage.

Your heart, Bessie, is an autumn garage.

J. D. Salinger
Just because somebody's dead, you don't just stop liking them-especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that're alive and all.

Just because somebody's dead, you don't just stop liking them-especially if they were about a thousand times nicer than the people you know that're alive and all.

J. D. Salinger
It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean, how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question.

It's such a stupid question, in my opinion. I mean, how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question.

J. D. Salinger
I just never felt so fantastically rocky in my entire life.

I just never felt so fantastically rocky in my entire life.

J. D. Salinger
[...] don't you know who that Fat Lady really is? ... Ah, buddy. Ah, buddy. It's Christ Himself. Christ Himself, buddy.

[...] don't you know who that Fat Lady really is? ... Ah, buddy. Ah, buddy. It's Christ Himself. Christ Himself, buddy.

J. D. Salinger
She wrote to him fairly regularly, from a paradise of triple exclamation points and inaccurate observations.

She wrote to him fairly regularly, from a paradise of triple exclamation points and inaccurate observations.

J. D. Salinger
People never think anything is anything really. I'm getting goddam sick of it.

People never think anything is anything really. I'm getting goddam sick of it.

J. D. Salinger
Give me an honest con man any day.

Give me an honest con man any day.

J. D. Salinger
That killed me.

That killed me.

J. D. Salinger
Give me a story that just makes me unreasonably vigilant. Keep me up till five only because all your stars are out, and for no other reason.

Give me a story that just makes me unreasonably vigilant. Keep me up till five only because all your stars are out, and for no other reason.

J. D. Salinger
The connection was so bad, and I couldn’t talk at all during most of the call. How terrible it is when you say I love you and the person at the other end shouts back ‘What?

The connection was so bad, and I couldn’t talk at all during most of the call. How terrible it is when you say I love you and the person at the other end shouts back ‘What?

J. D. Salinger
There are still a few men who love desperately.

There are still a few men who love desperately.

J. D. Salinger
I felt like I was sort of disappearing. It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing everytime you crossed a road.

I felt like I was sort of disappearing. It was that kind of a crazy afternoon, terrifically cold, and no sun out or anything, and you felt like you were disappearing everytime you crossed a road.

J. D. Salinger
In the first place, you’re way off when you start railing at things and people instead of at yourself.

In the first place, you’re way off when you start railing at things and people instead of at yourself.

J. D. Salinger
You asked me how to get out of the finite dimensions when I feel like it. I certainly don't use logic when I do it. Logic's the first thing you have to get rid of.

You asked me how to get out of the finite dimensions when I feel like it. I certainly don't use logic when I do it. Logic's the first thing you have to get rid of.

J. D. Salinger
If I were a piano player, I'd play it in the goddam closet.

If I were a piano player, I'd play it in the goddam closet.

J. D. Salinger
My god, there's absolutely nothing tenth-rate about you, and yet you're up to your neck at this minute in tenth-rate thinking.

My god, there's absolutely nothing tenth-rate about you, and yet you're up to your neck at this minute in tenth-rate thinking.

J. D. Salinger
This is God's universe, buddy, not yours, and he has the final say about what's ego and what isn't.

This is God's universe, buddy, not yours, and he has the final say about what's ego and what isn't.

J. D. Salinger
I hate actors. They never act like people. They just think they do.

I hate actors. They never act like people. They just think they do.

J. D. Salinger
I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes.

I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes.

J. D. Salinger
I know. I'm very hard to talk to. I realize that.

I know. I'm very hard to talk to. I realize that.

J. D. Salinger
The goddam movies. They can ruin you. I'm not kidding

The goddam movies. They can ruin you. I'm not kidding

J. D. Salinger
I knew it wasn't too important, but it made me sad anyway.

I knew it wasn't too important, but it made me sad anyway.

J. D. Salinger
Where do the ducks go in the winter?

Where do the ducks go in the winter?

J. D. Salinger
Oh, it's lovely to see you!' Franny said as the cab moved off. 'I've missed you.' The words were no sooner out than she realized that she didn't mean them at all.

Oh, it's lovely to see you!' Franny said as the cab moved off. 'I've missed you.' The words were no sooner out than she realized that she didn't mean them at all.

J. D. Salinger
I just hope that one day - preferably when we’re both blind drunk - we can talk about it.

I just hope that one day - preferably when we’re both blind drunk - we can talk about it.

J. D. Salinger
Franny was staring at the little blotch of sunshine with a special intensity, as if she were considering lying down in it.

Franny was staring at the little blotch of sunshine with a special intensity, as if she were considering lying down in it.

J. D. Salinger
Bessie: 'Why don't you get married?'
Zooey: 'I like riding in trains too much. You never get to sit next to the window anymore when you're married.

Bessie: 'Why don't you get married?' Zooey: 'I like riding in trains too much. You never get to sit next to the window anymore when you're married.

J. D. Salinger
Some people you shouldn't kid, even if they deserve it.

Some people you shouldn't kid, even if they deserve it.

J. D. Salinger
He said I was unequipped to meet life because I had no sense of humor.

He said I was unequipped to meet life because I had no sense of humor.

J. D. Salinger
Know your true measurements and dress your mind accordingly

Know your true measurements and dress your mind accordingly

J. D. Salinger
I live alone (but catless, I'd like everybody to know)....

I live alone (but catless, I'd like everybody to know)....

J. D. Salinger
He said you were the only one who was bitter about S.'s suicide and the only one who really forgave him for it. The rest of us, he said, were outwardly unbitter and inwardly unforgiving.

He said you were the only one who was bitter about S.'s suicide and the only one who really forgave him for it. The rest of us, he said, were outwardly unbitter and inwardly unforgiving.

J. D. Salinger
They love their reasons for loving us almost as much as they love us, and most of the time more. It's not so good, that way.

They love their reasons for loving us almost as much as they love us, and most of the time more. It's not so good, that way.

J. D. Salinger
She really started to cry, and the next thing I knew, I was kissing her all over - anywhere - her eyes, her nose, her forehead, her eyebrows, and all, her ears - her whole face except her mouth and all.

She really started to cry, and the next thing I knew, I was kissing her all over - anywhere - her eyes, her nose, her forehead, her eyebrows, and all, her ears - her whole face except her mouth and all.

J. D. Salinger
In my mind, I'm probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw.

In my mind, I'm probably the biggest sex maniac you ever saw.

J. D. Salinger