Bertolt Brecht - Life of Galileo (1940)

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Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes.

Bertolt Brecht
Science knows only one commandment – contribute to science.

Bertolt Brecht
Then I will tell you something. I do not believe in it. Forty years among men has consistently taught me that they are not amenable to common sense. Show them the red tail of a comet, fill them with black terror, and they will all come running out of their houses and break their legs. But tell them one sensible proposition and support it with seven reasons, and they will simply laugh in your face

Bertolt Brecht
Andrea: Unhappy the land that has no heroes!…
Galileo: No. Unhappy the land that needs heroes.

Bertolt Brecht
The right to happiness is fundamental; men live so little time and die alone.

Bertolt Brecht
Go make yourself a plan And be a shining light. Then make yourself a second plan, For neither will come right.

Bertolt Brecht
The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set some limit on infinite error.

Bertolt Brecht
The world of knowledge takes a crazy turn
When teachers themselves are taught to learn.

Bertolt Brecht
Father says theologians have their bells to ring: physicists have their laughter.
Virginia speaking

Bertolt Brecht
BELLARMIN: Wouldn't you also think it possible that the Creator had a better idea of what he was making than those he has created?

Bertolt Brecht
GALILEO:...Knowledge will become a passion and research an ecstasy.

Bertolt Brecht
SAGREDO [reluctant to go to the telescope]: I feel something not all that remote from fear, Galileo.
GALILEO: I'm about to show you one of the shining milkwhite clouds in the Milky Way. Tell me what it's made up of.
SAGREDO: Those are stars, innumerable stars.

Bertolt Brecht
GALILEO: Truth is born of the times, not of authority. Our ignorance is limitless: let us lop one cubic millimeter off it. Why try to be clever now that we at last have a chance of being just a little less stupid?

Bertolt Brecht
One of the main reasons why the sciences are so poor is that they imagine they are so rich. It isn't their job to throw open the door to infinite wisdom but to put a limit to infinite error.
Galileo speaking

Bertolt Brecht