Quote Analysis

Chapter 17:
"Take most people, they're crazy about cars. They worry if they get a little scratch on them, and they're always talking about how many miles they get to a gallon, and if they get a brand-new car already they start thinking about trading it in for one that's even newer. I don't even like old cars. I mean they don't even interest me. I'd rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God's sake."

Holden is trying to say that he doesn't want to be like everyone else. He wants to be different and unique in his own way. Just because everyone else is doing a certain thing, it does not apply to him.

When Holden talks about the horse, he also states the fact that he is not materialistic like other people. Holden prefers something that has more meaning, such as life or human being.