Books Quote by Bertolt Brecht
““Who built Thebes of the seven gates? In the books you will find the name of kings. Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock? And Babylon, many times demolished. Who raised it up so many times? In what houses Of gold-glittering Lima did the builders live? Where, the evening that the Wall of China was finished Did the masons go? Great Rome Is full of triumphal arches. Who erected them? Over whom Did the Caesars triumph? Had Byzantium, much praised in song, Only palaces for its inhabitants? Even in fabled Atlantis The night the ocean engulfed it The drowning still bawled for their slaves.””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, 1941
The quote muses on the cyclical rise and fall of civilizations, questioning who builds and rebuilds great structures and societies.
In simple terms: It reflects on how empires rise, fall, and are rebuilt by unknown hands.
Key Takeaway
Consider the unseen forces shaping history.
Themes
history
impermanence
human agency
civilization
mythology
Mood
reflective
inquisitive
poetic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- historical research
- architectural preservation
- mythic storytelling
- cultural analysis
Key Concepts
archaeology
political power
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- Who are the ordinary people behind great monuments?
- What does rebuilding say about resilience?
A Different Perspective
The quote romanticizes ancient wonders without acknowledging their human cost.
