Bertolt Brecht Quotes

The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, takes no part in political life. He doesn't seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of rent, of medicines all depend on political decisions. He even prides himself on his political ignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He doesn't know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, the abandoned child, the robber and, worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations.

Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.

There are men who struggle for a day and they are good. There are men who struggle for a year and they are better. There are men who struggle many years, and they are better still. But there are those who struggle all their lives: These are the indispensable ones.

He who fights, can lose. He who doesn't fight, has already lost.

Nowadays, anyone who wishes to combat lies and ignorance and to write the truth must overcome at least five difficulties. He must have the courage to write the truth when truth is everywhere opposed; the keenness to recognize it, although it is everywhere concealed; the skill to manipulate it as a weapon; the judgment to select those in whose hands it will be effective; and the running to spread the truth among such persons.

Don't expect the theatre to satisfy the habits of its audience, but to change them.

The first time it was reported that our friends were being butchered there was a cry of horror. Then a hundred were butchered. But when a thousand were butchered and there was no end to the butchery, a blanket of silence spread. When evil-doing comes like falling rain, nobody calls out "stop!" When crimes begin to pile up they become invisible. When sufferings become unendurable the cries are no longer heard. The cries, too, fall like rain in summer.

Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.

Bank robbery is an initiative of amateurs. True professionals establish a bank.

Who does Not Know the Truth, is simply a Fool... Yet who Knows the Truth and Calls it a Lie, is a Criminal.

General, your tank is a powerful vehicle It smashes down forests and crushes a hundred men. But it has one defect: It needs a driver. General, your bomber is powerful. It flies faster than a storm and carries more than an elephant. But it has one defect: It needs a mechanic. General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.

Love is also like a coconut which is good while it is fresh, but you have to spit it out when the juice is gone, what's left tastes bitter.

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.

Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.

Would it not be simpler If the Government dissolved the people and elected another?

Some party hack decreed that the people had lost the government's confidence and could only regain it with redoubled effort. If that is the case, would it not be simpler, If the government simply dissolved the people And elected another?

We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.

In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times.

Love is the wish to give, not to receive.

Those who take the most from the table, teach contentment. Those for whom the taxes are destined, demand sacrifice. Those who eat their fill, speak to the hungry, of wonderful times to come. Those who lead the country into the abyss, call ruling difficult, for ordinary folk.

Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.

Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.

To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.

When the leaders speak of peace 　The common folk know 　That war is coming 　When the leaders curse war 　The mobilization order is already written out. Every day, to earn my daily bread 　I go to the market where lies are bought 　Hopefully 　I take up my place among the sellers.

What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?

Sometimes I have visions of myself driving through hell, selling sulphur and brimstone, or through heaven peddling refreshments to the roaming souls. If me and the children I've got left could find a place where there's no shooting, I wouldn't mind a few years of peace and quiet.

Boy Meets Girl, So What?

Schoenberg is too melodious for me, too sweet.

Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon.

All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living.

All the gang of those who rule us Hope our quarrels never stop Helping them to split and fool us So they can remain on top.

Everyone needs help from everyone.

From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.

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.

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.

Reality changes; in order to represent it, modes of representation must change.

Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.

Do not fear death so much but rather the inadequate life.

War is like love, it always finds a way.

People who fight may lose. People who do not fight have already lost.

For art to be 'unpolitical' means only to ally itself with the 'ruling' group.

The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error.

If you fight you might lose, if you don't you have already lost.

One can describe the world of today to the people of today only if one describes it as capable of alteration.

Sin is what is new, strong, surprising, strange. The theatre must take an interest in sin if the young are to be able to go there.

Though the rich of this earth find no difficulty in creating misery, they can't bear to see it.

Don’t accept the habitual as a natural thing. In times of disorder, of organized confusion, of de-humanized humanity, nothing should seem natural. Nothing should seem impossible to change.

Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably.

To those who does not know the world is on fire, I have nothing to say.

If you join the rat race — you're in the race of rats.