Bertolt Brecht

Why Today’s Reality Guarantees Tomorrow’s Change

Finally, Brecht’s insight carries an ethical challenge. If change is inevitable, the real question becomes: change in which direction, and for whose benefit? His words encourage us not to cling to illusions of permanence but to engage consciously with the forces already at work. By recognizing how current structures generate future outcomes—inequality spawning unrest, environmental damage breeding disasters—we are better positioned to steer transformation toward justice rather than catastrophe. In short, seeing things as they are is the first step to ensuring they become what they ought to be. [...]

Desire and Striving: The Seeds of Success

Yet, Brecht’s optimism might be read not as a promise of instant reward but as an ethic of perseverance. When failures occur, desire renews purpose and striving cultivates resilience. Modern self-help philosophies, such as those popularized by Angela Duckworth’s research on grit, stress that long-term passion and perseverance outweigh innate talent. Brecht’s aphorism, therefore, champions the virtues of persistence and the transformative power inherent in desire and effort. [...]