The defeats and victories of the fellows at the top aren’t always defeats and victories for the fellows at the bottom.
Meaning of the quote
The quote means that the things that happen to the people in charge, like losing or winning, don't always affect the people at the bottom the same way. What's good or bad for the leaders doesn't always mean it's good or bad for everyone else.
About Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a renowned German playwright, theatre practitioner, and poet. He was a leading figure in the development of “epic theatre” and the Verfremdungseffekt, and his works were heavily influenced by Marxist thought. Brecht’s life was marked by his exile during the Nazi era and his establishment of the Berliner Ensemble theatre company after the war.
More quotes from Bertolt Brecht
Don’t tell me peace has broken out.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
From the cradle to the coffin underwear comes first.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Society cannot share a common communication system so long as it is split into warring factions.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Poverty makes you wise but it’s a curse.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
It is easier to rob by setting up a bank than by holding up a bank clerk.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Sometimes it’s more important to be human, than to have good taste.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
There are many elements to a campaign. Leadership is number one. Everything else is number two.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Science knows only one commandment – contribute to science.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
People remain what they are even if their faces fall apart.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
No one can be good for long if goodness is not in demand.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
People are too durable, that’s their main trouble. They can do too much to themselves, they last too long.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Poverty makes you sad as well as wise.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Don’t be afraid of death so much as an inadequate life.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
It’s all right to hesitate if you then go ahead.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Everyone chases after happiness, not noticing that happiness is right at their heels.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
War is like love; it always finds a way.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Right is its own defense.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
He who laughs has not yet heard the bad news.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
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.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Grub first, then ethics.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
To live means to finesse the processes to which one is subjugated.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
No one will improve your lot if you do not yourself.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
What a miserable thing life is: you’re living in clover, only the clover isn’t good enough.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Do not fear death so much but rather the inadequate life.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
What’s breaking into a bank compared with founding a bank?
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Everyone needs help from everyone.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
You don’t need to pray to God any more when there are storms in the sky, but you do have to be insured.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Temptation to behave is terrible.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Mixing one’s wines may be a mistake, but old and new wisdom mix admirably.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
What is the robbing of a bank compared to the founding of a bank?
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
The law was made for one thing alone, for the exploitation of those who don’t understand it, or are prevented by naked misery from obeying it.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Intelligence is not to make no mistakes, but quickly to see how to make them good.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
One forgets too easily the difference between a man and his image, and that there is none between the sound of his voice on the screen and in real life.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
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.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn when teachers themselves are taught to learn.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Whenever there are great virtues, it’s a sure sign something’s wrong.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
Why be a man when you can be a success?
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)
The defeats and victories of the fellows at the top aren’t always defeats and victories for the fellows at the bottom.
German poet, playwright, and theatre director (1898-1956)