Brecht

Those who take the meat from the table
Teach contentment.
Those for whom the taxes are destined
Demand sacrifice.
Those who eat their fill speak to the hungry
Of wonderful times to come.
Those who lead the country into the abyss
Call ruling too difficult
For ordinary men.

Brecht

Hatred, even of meanness,
Contorts the features.
Anger, even against injustice,
Makes the voice hoarse.
We who wanted to make the world decent
Could not ourselves be decent.
But you, when that time comes
And man is a helper to man,
Think of us
With forbearance.

Brecht