black
grey
blue
red
brown
white

If you join the rat race — you’re in the race of rats.

Bertolt Brecht

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

Block Book Kings
When the house of a great one collapses Many little ones are slain.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Collapse House Littles
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. …
BERTOLT BRECHT

Art Science Views Work
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!”
BERTOLT BRECHT

Cutting Men Transfusion War
People are too durable, that’s their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Long People Silly
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Faces Fall People
If you fight you might lose, if you don’t you have already lost.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fighting Lost
In my view, the great and complicated things that go on in the world cannot be adequately recognized by people who do not use every possible aid to understanding.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Adequately Great Recognized Understanding
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

Fool Government Splits
For art to be ‘unpolitical’ means only to ally itself with the ‘ruling’ group.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Allies Art Mean
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.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Peace Running War
Don’t be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Anticipation Death Life
There are some with brains and some without. It makes for a better division of labour.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Brain Division Labor
Right is its own defense.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Defense Literature Own Right
If you wan to steal money, don’t rob a bank – open one.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Money One Open Stealing
Whenever there are great virtues, it’s a sure sign something’s wrong.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Great Something Virtue Wrong

If you join the rat race — you’re in the race of rats.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

If you join the rat race — you’re in the race of rats.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

More Bertolt Brecht Quotes