How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)
Quote #1
PEACHUM. For the villainy of the world is great, and a man needs to run his legs off to keep them from being stolen from under him. (1.3.215-217)
Peachum suddenly gets poetic on us, sharing his philosophy on life with a depressing hyperbole. His crazy image, of running your legs off to save them from being stolen, reveals his chaotic, dangerous image of existence.
Quote #2
PEACHUM. Once all are good His Kingdom is at hand
Where blissfully we'll bask in His pure light.
Let's practice goodness: who would disagree?
But sadly on this planet while we're waiting
The means are meager and the morals low. (1.3.247-251)
And moving on to irony, Peachum refers to the Church's version of life, in which God's Kingdom will exist on earth and everything will be peachy. He contrasts that vision to reality, which comes out decidedly… un-peachy.
Quote #3
POLLY AND MRS. PEACHUM. So that is all there is to it.
The world is poor, and man's a s***. (1.3.255-256)
It's blunt, and it rhymes. Polly and her mom sing about their vision of what life is like, and it's not such a ladylike lyric. Brecht uses upbeat rhythms and funny rhymes to convey really depressing ideas. The audience is beaten over the head with this one: poverty and inequality lead to violence.