Bertolt Brecht Quotes - Page 6

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Of all the works of man I like best Those which have been used. The copper pots with their dents and flattened edges The knives and forks whose wooden handles Have been worn away by many hands: such forms Seemed to me the noblest.

Bertolt Brecht

Men, Hands, Knives

Bertolt Brecht, Ralph Manheim (1987). “Poems, 1913-1956”, p.192, Taylor & Francis

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Art and science coincide insofar as both aim to improve the lives of men and women. The latter normally concerns itself with profit, the former with pleasure. In the coming age, art will fashion our entertainment out of new means of productivity in ways that will simultaneously enhance our profit and maximize our pleasure.

Bertolt Brecht

Fashion, Art, Mean

"A Short Organum for the Theatre". Book by Bertolt Brecht, 1949.

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One must live well to know what living is.

Bertolt Brecht

Live Well, Wells, Knows

Bertolt Brecht (2015). “Brecht Collected Plays: 2: Man Equals Man; Elephant Calf; Threepenny Opera; Mahagonny; Seven Deadly Sins”, p.137, A&C Black

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The right to happiness is fundamental; men live so little time and die alone.

Bertolt Brecht

Happiness, Men, Joy

Bertolt Brecht, Desmond Ivo Vesey, Eric Bentley (1964). “The Threepenny Opera”, p.39, Grove Press

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...it is simplicity that is difficult to make.

Bertolt Brecht

Simplicity, Difficult, Software Design

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Today every invention is received with a cry of triumph which soon turns into a cry of fear.

Bertolt Brecht

Fear, Triumph, Today

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Who built the seven gates of Thebes? In the books are listed the names of kings. Did the kings heave up the building blocks?

Bertolt Brecht

Kings, Block, Book

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Whenever there are great virtues, it's a sure sign something's wrong.

Bertolt Brecht

Virtue

Bertolt Brecht (1966). “Mother Courage and Her Children: A Chronicle of the Thirty Years' War”, p.39, Grove Press

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Pleasures First look from morning's window The rediscovered book Fascinated faces Snow, the change of the seasons The newspaper The dog Dialectics Showering, swimming Old music Comfortable shoes Comprehension New music Writing, planting Traveling Singing Being friendly

Bertolt Brecht

Dog, Morning, Book

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With drooping shoulders The majority sit hunched, their foreheads furrowed like Stony ground that has been repeatedly ploughed-up to no purpose.

Bertolt Brecht

Majority, Purpose, Shoulders

Bertolt Brecht, Ralph Manheim (1987). “Poems, 1913-1956”, p.235, Taylor & Francis

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

Bertolt Brecht

Wisdom, Mistake, Wine

"The Caucasian Chalk Circle". Play by Bertolt Brecht, 1944.

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The finest plans are always ruined by the littleness of those who ought to carry them out, for emperor himself can actually be nothing.

Bertolt Brecht

Finest, Emperor, Ruined

'Mutter Courage' (1939) sc. 6

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There are many elements to a campaign. Leadership is number one. Everything else is number two.

Bertolt Brecht

Leadership, Two, Numbers

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I was called up in the war and sent to a hospital. I dressed wounds, applied iodine, gave enemas, did blood transfusions. If the doctor ordered: "Brecht, amputate a leg!", I would reply, "Certainly, Your Excellency!", and cut off the leg. If I was told, "Perform a trepanning!" I opened the man's skull and messed about with his brains. I saw how they patched fellows up, so as to cart them back to the Front as quickly as they could.

Bertolt Brecht

War, Cutting, Men

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Impact lies in the vicinity of mistakes.

Bertolt Brecht

Mistake, Lying, Impact

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People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long.

Bertolt Brecht

Silly, Long, People

Bertolt Brecht (1966). “Jungle of Cities: And Other Plays”, p.77, Grove Press

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I am a playwright. I show What I have seen. In the man markets I have seen how men are traded. That I show, I, the playwright.

Bertolt Brecht

Men, He Man, Shows

Bertolt Brecht, Ralph Manheim (1987). “Poems, 1913-1956”, p.257, Taylor & Francis

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Only bad generals need heroes.

Bertolt Brecht

Hero, Needs

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People who understand everything get no stories.

Bertolt Brecht

People, Stories

Bertolt Brecht (2015). “Collected Short Stories of Bertolt Brecht”, p.39, Bloomsbury Publishing

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The more innocent they are, the more they deserve to be shot.

Bertolt Brecht

Innocent, Shots, Deserve

"Intellectuals". Book by Paul Johnson, 1990.

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Recently my fingers have developed a prejudice against comparatives. They all follow this pattern: a squirrel is smaller than a tree; a bird is more musical than a tree. Each of us is the strongest one in his or her own skin. Characteristics should take off their hats to one another, instead of spitting in each other's faces.

Bertolt Brecht

Squirrels, Perspective, Bird

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Don't tell me peace has broken out.

Bertolt Brecht

Peace, Broken

Mother Courage sc. 8 (1939)

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Those who have had no share in the good fortunes of the mighty Often have a share in their misfortunes.

Bertolt Brecht

Share, Fortune, Good Fortune

Bertolt Brecht (1975). “Grove Press modern drama: six plays”, Grove Press

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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

Men, Giving, Police

"The Threepenny Opera". Play by Bertolt Brecht, 1928.

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The defeats and victories of the fellows at the top aren't always defeats and victories for the fellows at the bottom.

Bertolt Brecht

Sunset, Victory, Defeat

Bertolt Brecht (1966). “Mother Courage and Her Children: A Chronicle of the Thirty Years' War”, p.52, Grove Press

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Born: February 10, 1898
Died: August 14, 1956
Occupation: Poet
Cite this Page: Citation

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