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
It is a pity that, as one gradually gains experience, one loses one’s youth.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Experience, Youth
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: Fear, Anxiety, Danger, Risk, Acceptance
One must work and dare if one really wants to live.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Work
How can I be useful. Of what service can I be. There is something inside me. What can it be?
—Vincent van Gogh
Love is something eternal; the aspect may change, but not the essence.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Love
A good picture is equivalent to a good deed.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Photography, Goodness, Good Deeds, Deeds
It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to the feeling for the things themselves, for reality, is more important than the feeling for pictures.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Arts, Art, Artists, Photography
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
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Courage, Bravery, Courage to Begin
I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Adventure
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
I tell you, if one wants to be active, one must not be afraid of going wrong, one must not be afraid of making mistakes now and then. Many people think that they will become good just by doing no harm — but that’s a lie, and you yourself used to call it that. That way lies stagnation, mediocrity.
—Vincent van Gogh
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
The Mediterranean has the color of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t always know if it is green or violet, you can’t even say it’s blue, because the next moment the changing reflection has taken on a tint of rose or gray.
—Vincent van Gogh
There is no blue without yellow and without orange.
—Vincent van Gogh
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
I must continue to follow the path I take now. If I do nothing, if I study nothing, if I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it — keep going, keep going come what may.
—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
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
People are often unable to do anything, imprisoned as they are in I don’t know what kind of terrible, terrible, oh such terrible cage.
—Vincent van Gogh
Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it.
—Vincent van Gogh
In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.
—Vincent van Gogh
I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Art, Night
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
But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Love
It is better to be high-spirited, even though one makes more mistakes, than to be narrow-minded and all too prudent. It is good to love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love, is well done.
—Vincent van Gogh
Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Public opinion, Painting, Art, Painters
I feel the need of relations and friendship, of affection, of friendly intercourse .. . I cannot miss these things without feeling, as does any other intelligent man, a void and a deep need.
—Vincent van Gogh
Topics: Friendship
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Benjamin Haydon English Painter
- Baruch Spinoza Dutch Philosopher
- Henri Nouwen Dutch Catholic Priest
- Corrie Ten Boom Dutch Evangelist
- Desiderius Erasmus Dutch Humanist, Scholar
- Etty Hillesum Jewish Diarist
- Edgar Degas French Artist
- Grandma Moses American Painter
- James Abbott McNeill Whistler American Painter, Etcher
- Georges Braque French Painter
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