Sin is what is new, strong, surprising, strange. The theatre must take an interest in sin if the young are to be able to go there.
BERTOLT BRECHTPeople cannot remain good unless good is expected of them.
More Bertolt Brecht Quotes
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All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living.
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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.
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Here today we huddle tight As the darkest heathens might The snow falls chilly on our skin The snow is forcing its way in. Hush, snow, come in with us to dwell: We were thrown out by Heaven as well.
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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.
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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?
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General, man is very useful. He can fly and he can kill. But he has one defect: He can think.
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Reality changes; in order to represent it, modes of representation must also change. Nothing comes from nothing; the new comes from the old, but that is why it is new.
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What rapture, oh, it is to know A good thing when you see it And having seen a good thing, oh, What rapture ’tis to flee it.
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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.
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Little changes are the enemies of great changes.
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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.
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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.
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Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came? Why then, the war would come to you!
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Art and science work in quite different ways: agreed. But, bad as it may sound, I have to admit that I cannot get along as an artist without the use of one or two sciences. …
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Fearful is the seductive power of goodness.
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As regards obstacles, the shortest distance between two points can be a curve.
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Who struggles can fail. Who doesn’t struggle has already failed!
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Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.
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…it is simplicity that is difficult to make.
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He who is still laughing is he who hasn’t heard the terrible news.
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Why be a man when you can be a success?
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The fate of man is man.
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Go make yourself a plan And be a shining light. Then make yourself a second plan, For neither will come right.
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From the start it has been the theatre’s business to entertain people … it needs no other passport than fun.
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What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?
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Those who have had no share in the good fortunes of the mighty Often have a share in their misfortunes.
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