Quotes By Bertolt Brecht

Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.

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

Poverty makes you wise but it's a curse.

Temptation to behave is terrible.

What a miserable thing life is: you're living in clover, only the clover isn't good enough.

Don't tell me peace has broken out.

No one will improve your lot if you do not yourself.

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.

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

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

It's all right to hesitate if you then go ahead.

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.

Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.

Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.

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.

Everyone needs help from everyone.

Right is its own defense.

Science knows only one commandment - contribute to science.

Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.

From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.

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.

You don't need to pray to God any more when there are storms in the sky, but you do have to be insured.

What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?

War is like love; it always finds a way.

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

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

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

To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.

What's breaking into a bank compared with founding a bank?

Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring factions.