Bertolt Brecht

Playwright, Author

1898 – 1956

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Who was Bertolt Brecht?

Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, theatre director, and Marxist.

A theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter through the tours undertaken by the Berliner Ensemble – the post-war theatre company operated by Brecht and his wife, long-time collaborator and actress Helene Weigel.

Famous Quotes:

  • Go make yourself a plan / And be a shining light. / Then make yourself a second plan, / For neither will come right.
  • It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.
  • Right is its own defense.
  • We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.
  • The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.
  • Science knows only one commandment -- contribute to science.
  • No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.
  • Today every invention is received with a cry of triumph which soon turns into a cry of fear.
  • A man who strains himself on the stage is bound, if he is any good, to strain all the people sitting in the stalls.
  • 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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Born
Feb 10, 1898
Augsburg
Also known as
  • Bertold Brecht
  • Brecht
  • Bert Brecht
  • Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht
  • Berthold Brecht
Parents
Siblings
Spouses
Children
Religion
  • Atheism
Ethnicity
  • Germans
  • Bavarians
Nationality
  • German Empire
  • German Democratic Republic
  • Austria
Profession
Education
  • Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
    Medicine
    (1917 - )
  • Drama
Lived in
  • Augsburg
Died
Aug 14, 1956
East Berlin
Resting place
Dorotheenstadt cemetery

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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"Bertolt Brecht." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/bertolt_brecht>.

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