The Catcher in the Rye
"The Catcher in the Rye" follows the story of Holden Caulfield, a disenchanted teenager who has been expelled from multiple prep schools. As he wanders around New York City, he grapples with feelings of alienation and the complexities of adulthood, ultimately yearning to protect the innocence of childhood. His internal struggles and critical observations of society reveal his profound sense of loss and desire for connection.
9 curated highlights from this book
Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most impactful passages and quotes from The Catcher in the Rye, carefully selected to capture the essence of the book.
People always think something's all true.
It's full of phonies, and all you do is study so that you can learn enough to be smart enough to be able to buy a goddam Cadillac some day.
I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.
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.
I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all.
You can never find a place that's nice and peaceful, because there isn't any.
It's what I’d call a madman’s game.
I felt like I was disappearing.
The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was.