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Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came? Why then, the war would come to you!

Bertolt Brecht

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
Let nothing be called natural In an age of bloody confusion, Ordered disorder, planned caprice, And dehumanized humanity, lest all things Be held unalterable!
BERTOLT BRECHT

Confusion Humanity Nature
If you fight you might lose, if you don’t you have already lost.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Fighting Lost
As regards obstacles, the shortest distance between two points can be a curve.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Curves Distance Two
The finest plans are always ruined by the littleness of those who ought to carry them out, for emperor himself can actually be nothing.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Emperor Finest Ruined
Writers can’t write as fast as governments make wars; because to write demands thinking.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Thinking War Writing
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

Fall Rain Summer
Oh! Moon of Alabama We now must say good-bye We’ve lost our good old mama And must have whiskey Oh, you know why!
BERTOLT BRECHT

Alabama Bye Moon
Would it not be simpler If the Government dissolved the people and elected another?
BERTOLT BRECHT

Another Government People
Each of us is the strongest one in his or her own skin. Characteristics should take off their hats to one another, instead of spitting in each other’s faces.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Characteristics Each Face Spitting
First the pork chops, then morality
BERTOLT BRECHT

Firsts Morality Pork
When the leaders speak of peace, the common folk know war is coming.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Common Folk Leader War
You can’t write poems about trees when the woods are full of policemen.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Tree Wood Writing
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

Bother Carries Defect Faster General Man Storm
Poverty makes you wise but it’s a curse.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Curse Poverty Wise
Their peace and their war Are like wind and storm. War grows from their peace.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Peace Storm War Wind

Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came? Why then, the war would come to you!

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Suppose they gave a war, and nobody came? Why then, the war would come to you!

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