Denn wie man sich bettet, so liegt man. — Bertolt Brecht | Printable Wall Art

“Denn wie man sich bettet, so liegt man.”
“For as you make your bed, so you must lie in it.”

Words by Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) — German playwright and poet.

About this quote

This proverb means that you must accept the consequences of your own actions and decisions. How you prepare your circumstances directly affects how comfortably or uncomfortably you will live with them. It serves as a reminder that we shape our own futures, urging thoughtful planning and personal responsibility rather than complaining about outcomes we created.

Brecht incorporated this traditional German idiom into his 1930 satirical opera, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Set to music by Kurt Weill, the refrain emphasises themes of survival, self-interest, and social critique in Weimar-era theatre.

People often hang this print in a bedroom or home office as a daily prompt for personal accountability.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.