You can't write poems about trees when the woods are full of policemen. Bertolt Brecht More Quotes by Bertolt Brecht More Quotes From Bertolt Brecht 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. Bertolt Brecht hate ignorance children Don't expect the theatre to satisfy the habits of its audience, but to change them. Bertolt Brecht audience habit theatre Art is not a mirror held up to reality but a hammer with which to shape it. Bertolt Brecht mirrors reality art 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. Bertolt Brecht struggle men years 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. Bertolt Brecht writing running lying Who does Not Know the Truth, is simply a Fool... Yet who Knows the Truth and Calls it a Lie, is a Criminal. Bertolt Brecht criminals doe lying He who fights, can lose. He who doesn't fight, has already lost. Bertolt Brecht loses fighting lost 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. Bertolt Brecht summer rain fall Bank robbery is an initiative of amateurs. True professionals establish a bank. Bertolt Brecht bank-robbery robbery initiative 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. Bertolt Brecht understanding desire reality For art to be 'unpolitical' means only to ally itself with the 'ruling' group. Bertolt Brecht allies mean art 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. Bertolt Brecht confusion humanity impossible Some party hack decreed that the people Bertolt Brecht party government people Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels. Bertolt Brecht high-heels happy happiness Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are. Bertolt Brecht moving-on stay-strong change 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. Bertolt Brecht theatre historical feelings In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times. Bertolt Brecht singing dark inspirational 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 crush powerful men 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. Bertolt Brecht splits fool government If you join the rat race — you're in the race of rats. Bertolt Brecht rat-race rats race
