1898-1956, German Dramatist, Poet
A man who sees another man on the street corner with only a stump for an arm will be so shocked the first time he'll give him sixpence. But the second time it'll only be a three penny bit. And if he sees him a third time, he'll have him cold-bloodedly handed over to the police.
Bertolt Brecht – [Charity]
A man who strains himself on the stage is bound, if he is any good, to strain all the people sitting in the stalls.
Bertolt Brecht – [Acting and Actors]
Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.
Bertolt Brecht – [Life and Living]
Don't tell me peace has broken out.
Bertolt Brecht – [Peace]
For once you must try not to shirk the facts: mankind is kept alive by bestial acts.
Bertolt Brecht – [Sex]
From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.
Bertolt Brecht – [Dress]
It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.
Bertolt Brecht – [Bankers and Banking]
Literary works cannot be taken over like factories, or literary forms of expression like industrial methods. Realist writing, of which history offers many widely varying examples, is likewise conditioned by the question of how, when and for what class it is made use of.
Bertolt Brecht – [Reality]
Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably.
Bertolt Brecht – [Wisdom]
No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.
Bertolt Brecht – [Goodness]
No one will improve your lot if you do not yourself.
Bertolt Brecht – [Responsibility]
People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long.
Bertolt Brecht – [Endurance]
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
Bertolt Brecht – [Faces]
Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.
Bertolt Brecht – [Poverty and The Poor]
Right is its own defense.
Bertolt Brecht – [Right and Rightness]
Science knows only one commandment — contribute to science.
Bertolt Brecht – [Science and Scientists]
Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring factions.
Bertolt Brecht – [Media]
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 – [Law and Lawyers]
The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.
Bertolt Brecht – [Teachers and Teaching]
There are many elements to a campaign. Leadership is number one. Everything else is number two.
Bertolt Brecht – [Leaders and Leadership]