Bertolt Brecht
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.Collection: Alone
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.Collection: Peace
There are many elements to a campaign. Leadership is number one. Everything else is number two.Collection: Leadership
Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.Collection: Money
No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.Collection: Good
Do not fear death so much but rather the inadequate life.Collection: Death
Don't be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.Collection: Death
The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.Collection: Knowledge
Mixing one's wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably.Collection: Wisdom
Don't tell me peace has broken out.Collection: Peace
What a miserable thing life is: you're living in clover, only the clover isn't good enough.Collection: Good
Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.Collection: Intelligence
Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.Collection: Happiness
Why be a man when you can be a success?Collection: Success
Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.Collection: Change
War is like love; it always finds a way.Collection: War
Science knows only one commandment - contribute to science.Collection: Science
Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring factions.Collection: Communication
What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?
He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.
It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.
From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.
Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.
Temptation to behave is terrible.
Everyone needs help from everyone.
To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.
You don't need to pray to God any more when there are storms in the sky, but you do have to be insured.
Sometimes it's more important to be human, than to have good taste.
One forgets too easily the difference between a man and his image, and that there is none between the sound of his voice on the screen and in real life.
The defeats and victories of the fellows at the top aren't always defeats and victories for the fellows at the bottom.
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
Poverty makes you wise but it's a curse.
What's breaking into a bank compared with founding a bank?
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
Whenever there are great virtues, it's a sure sign something's wrong.
Right is its own defense.
It's all right to hesitate if you then go ahead.
The finest plans have always been spoiled by the littleness of them that should carry them out. Even emperors can't do it all by themselves.
Grub first, then ethics.
No one will improve your lot if you do not yourself.
People are too durable, that's their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long.
Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon.
Don't expect the theatre to satisfy the habits of its audience, but to change them.Collection: Theatre
Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it.Collection: Art
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.Collection: Children
Who does Not Know the Truth, is simply a Fool... Yet who Knows the Truth and Calls it a Lie, is a Criminal.Collection: Lying
He who fights, can lose. He who doesn't fight, has already lost.Collection: Fighting
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.Collection: Struggle
For art to be 'unpolitical' means only to ally itself with the 'ruling' group.Collection: Art
Bank robbery is an initiative of amateurs. True professionals establish a bank.Collection: Initiative