Bertolt Brecht quotes - page 3

The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don't understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it. (Bertolt Brecht)
The defeats and victories of the fellows at the top aren't always defeats and victories for the fellows at the bottom. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
What they could do with 'round here is a good war. What else can you expect with peace running wild all over the place? You know what the trouble with peace is? No organization. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
The human race tends to remember the abuses to which it has been subjected rather than the endearments. What's left of kisses? Wounds, however, leave scars. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Alas,we who wanted kindness, could not be kind ourselves. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
We attacked a foreign people and treated them like rebels. As you know, it's all right to treat barbarians barbarically. It's the desire to be barbaric that makes governments call their enemies barbarians. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
The war which is coming Is not the first one. There were Other wars before it. When the last one came to an end There were conquerors and conquered. Among the conquered the common people Starved. Among the conquerors The common people starved too. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Worship with fulness of heart the weak memory of heaven! It cannot trace Either your name or your face Nobody knows you're still living. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
My business is too difficult. My business is trying to arouse human pity. There are few things that'll move people to pity, a few, but the trouble is when they've been used several times, they no longer work. So it happens, for instance, that a man who sees another man on the street corner with only a stump for an arm will be so shocked the first time that he'll give him sixpence. But the second time it'll only be a threepenny bit. And if he sees him a third time, he'll hand him over cold-bloodedly to the police. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
And I always thought: the very simplest words Must be enough. When I say what things are like Everyone's heart must be torn to shreds. That you'll go down if you don't stand up for yourself Surely you see that. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Those who are weak don't fight. Those who are stronger might fight for an hour. Those who are stronger still might fight for many years. The strongest fight their whole life. They are the indispensable ones. (Bertolt Brecht)
The plum tree in the yard's so small It's hardly like a tree at all. Yet there it is, railed round To keep it safe and sound.The poor thing can't grow any more Though if it could it would for sure. There's nothing to be done It gets too little sun. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Those who lead the country into the abyss Call ruling too difficult For ordinary men. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Who does Not Know the Truth, is simply a Fool... Yet who Knows the Truth and Calls it a Lie, is a Criminal. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
For art to be 'unpolitical' means only to ally itself with the 'ruling' group. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
It is not enough to demand insight and informative images of reality from the theater. Our theater must stimulate a desire for understanding, a delight in changing reality. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Grub first, then ethics. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Everyone needs help from everyone. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first. (Bertolt Brecht)
Right is its own defense. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Poverty makes you sad as well as wise. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
Temptation to behave is terrible. View quote
Bertolt Brecht
When something seems ‘the most obvious thing in the world' it means that any attempt to understand the world has been given up. View quote
Bertolt Brecht