WIST

Food comes first, then morals.

[Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral.] 

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
Die Dreigroschenoper [The Three-Penny Opera], act II, sc. iii (1928)

Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear,
And he shows them pearly white.
Just a jack-knife has MacHeath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight.
[Und der Haifisch, der had Zähne
Und die trägt er im Gesicht
Und MacHeath, der had ein Messer
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.]

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
Die Dreigroschenoper [The Three-Penny Opera], Prologue (1928)
English lyrics to "Mack the Knife" (Weill, Kurt / Berthold Brecht / Marc Blitzstein)

ANDREA: Unhappy the land that has no heroes! …
GALILEO: No, Unhappy the land that needs heroes.

[ANDREA: Unglücklich das Land, das keine Helden hat! ...
GALILEO:  Nein, Unglücklich das Land, das Helden nötig hat.]

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
Leben des Galilei, sc. 13 (1939)

Alt trans. [tr. Laughton (1961); cited as sc. 12]:
ANDREA: Unhappy the land that breeds no heros.
GALILEO: No, Andrea: Unhappy is the land that needs a hero.

It’s all right to hesitate if you then go ahead!

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) German poet, playwright, director, dramaturgist
The Good Woman of Setzuan, Prologue (1938-40) [tr. Bentley (1947)]