Vincent Van Gogh, a renowned artist born on March 30, 1853 in The Netherlands, is celebrated for his imaginative, emotive art style. Known for works like ‘Starry Night’ and ‘Sunflowers’, Van Gogh was not only an artist, but also a man with a wealth of wisdom to share. Despite his tragically short life, he left behind a plethora of meaningful quotes that offer a deeper understanding of his perception of life and art.
Here are 20 of the most popular quotes by Vincent Van Gogh:
- “I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”
- “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”
- “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
- “Art is to console those who are broken by life.”
- “I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.”
- “Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.”
- “The way to know life is to love many things.”
- “I would rather die of passion than of boredom.”
- “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
- “I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.”
- “One must work and dare if one really wants to live.”
- “I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”
- “I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.”
- “The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its pearls too.”
- “It is not only by one’s impulses that one achieves greatness, but also by patiently filing away the steel wall that separates what one feels from what one is capable of doing.”
- “I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream.”
- “As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.”
- “Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.”
- “Though I am often in the depths of misery, there is still calmness, pure harmony and music inside me.”
- “Like the fox I run with the hunted and if I ever become a lamb, I will die of grief.”
Van Gogh’s words echo his passion for art and his profound understanding of life. Often, his quotes touch upon themes of dreams, creativity, courage, and the human heart. His views about normality being barren of creativity and his advocacy for stepping out of comfort zones to grow and learn, inspire many artists and individuals around the world. Despite his struggles with mental health, Van Gogh’s art and wisdom remain an enduring testament to his spirit and innate artistry.