The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Acceptance, Risk, Fear, Anxiety, Danger
A good picture is equivalent to a good deed.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Good Deeds, Photography, Deeds, Goodness
I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Dedication, Commitment
How to achieve such anomalies, such alterations and re-fashionings of reality so what comes out of it are lies, if you like, but lies that are more than literal truth.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Reality
Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Love
Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Painting, Art, Public opinion, Painters
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Bravery, Courage to Begin, Courage
A weaver who has to direct and to interweave a great many little threads has no time to philosophize about it, but rather he is so absorbed in his work that he doesn’t think but acts, and he feels how things must go more than he can explain it.
—Vincent van Gogh
The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Love, Feelings
It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Books
One may have a blazing hearth in one’s soul and yet no one ever came to sit by it. Passers-by see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on their way.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Soul
Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Mistakes
One must work and dare if one really wants to live.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Work
Life is not long for anybody, and the problem is only to make something of it.
—Vincent van Gogh
When I have a terrible need of – shall I say the word – religion. Then I go out and paint the stars.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Imagination
I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Art, Night
It is a pity that, as one gradually gains experience, one loses one’s youth.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Experience, Youth
Conscience is a man’s compass.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Conscience, One liners
When we are working at a difficult task and strive after a good thing, we are fighting a righteous battle, the direct reward of which is that we are kept from much evil. As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.
—Vincent van Gogh
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.
—Vincent van Gogh
The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Love
I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Adventure
I wish they would only take me as I am.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Acceptance, Wishes, One liners
Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.
—Vincent van Gogh
If you hear a voice within you saying, “You are not a painter,” then by all means paint… and that voice will be silenced.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Confidence, Self-talk
If one were to say but few words, though ones with meaning, one would do better than to say many that were only empty sounds, and just as easy to utter as they were of little use.
—Vincent van Gogh
Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.
—Vincent van Gogh
Love always brings difficulties, that is true, but the good side of it is that it gives energy.
—Vincent van Gogh
I dream my painting and paint my dream.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Dream, Vision
What has changed is that my life then was less difficult and my future seemingly less gloomy, but as far as my inner self, my way of looking at things and of thinking is concerned, that has not changed. But if there has indeed been a change, then it is that I think, believe and love more seriously now what I thought, believed and loved even then.
—Vincent van Gogh
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Benjamin Haydon English Painter
- Baruch Spinoza Dutch Philosopher
- Henri Nouwen Dutch Catholic Priest
- Corrie Ten Boom Dutch Jewish Humanist
- Desiderius Erasmus Dutch Humanist, Scholar
- Etty Hillesum Jewish Diarist
- Edgar Degas French Painter
- Grandma Moses American Painter
- James Abbott McNeill Whistler American Painter, Etcher
- Georges Braque French Painter
Leave a Reply