Bertolt Brecht

art mirror reality hammer

“Art is not a mirror held up to reality

but a hammer with which to shape it.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

science aim wisdom error

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

bank robbong founding

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

gypsies jews homosexuals communist niemøller

“First of all, they came to take the gypsies

and I was happy because they pilfered.

Then they came to take the Jews and I said nothing,

because they were unpleasant to me.

Then they came to take homosexuals,

and I was relieved, because they were annoying me.

Then they came to take the Communists,

and I said nothing because I was not a Communist.

One day they came to take me,

and there was nobody left to protest.

Bertold Brecht, inspired by Emil Gustav Friedrich Martin Niemöller”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

artforms art living

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

afraid death inadequate life

“Don’t be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

general tank powerful driver bomb mechanic kill defect think

“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.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

crimes invisible

“As crimes pile up, they become invisible.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

rats race join

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

thinking pleasure human

“Thinking is one of the greatest pleasures of the human race.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

rob bankm clerk

“It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.”

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

fight lose

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

bank roberry amateur professional establish

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

party people government confidence dissolve elect

"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?"

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

writer government war thinking

"Writers can't write as fast as governments make wars; because to write demands thinking."

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

government dissolve people elect another

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

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

science commandment contribute

"Science knows only one commandment - contribute to science."

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

cradle coffin underwear

"From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first."

― Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)