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All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living.

Bertolt Brecht

We often do not know ourselves the grounds On which we act, though plain to others.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Ground Knows Others Ourselves
We attacked a foreign people and treated them like rebels. As you know, it’s all right to treat barbarians barbarically. It’s the desire to be barbaric that makes governments call their enemies barbarians.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Government People War
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
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.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Giving Men Police Six Street Time
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Faces Fall People
People who understand everything get no stories.
BERTOLT BRECHT

People Stories Understand
Of all the works of man I like best Those which have been used. The copper pots with their dents and flattened edges The knives and forks whose wooden handles Have been worn away by many hands: such forms Seemed to me the noblest.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Approaching Folk Hands Knives Men
Pleasures First look from morning’s window The rediscovered book Fascinated faces Snow, the change of the seasons
BERTOLT BRECHT

Book Change Dog Morning
Science knows only one commandment – contribute to science.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Account Knows Science
He who speaks of enemies , himself is the enemy.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Enemy Himself Speak
It isn’t important to come out on top, what matters is to be the one who comes out alive.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Acceptance Important Matters
Our audience must experience not only the ways to free Prometheus, but be schooled in the very desire to free him. Theater must teach all the pleasures and joys of discovery, all the feelings of triumph associated with liberation.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Audience Discovery Experience Joy Pleasure Schooled
Who has good luck is good, Who has bad luck is bad.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Bad Good Luck
There are times when you have to choose between being human and having good taste.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Being Good Human Nature Taste
When the praying does no good, insurance does help.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Helping Insurance Praying
Nowadays, anyone who wishes to combat lies and ignorance and to write the truth must overcome at least five difficulties.
BERTOLT BRECHT

Lying Running Writing

All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living.

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All artforms are in the service of the greatest of all arts: the art of living.

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