“Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination do not become the slave of your model.”
Imagination
“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.”
ExperienceAll Quotes by Vincent Van Gogh
“Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it.”
Poetry“One must work and dare if one really wants to live.”
Work“If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.”
Art“The way to know life is to love many things.”
Love“There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.”
Great“The best way to know God is to love many things.”
Best“As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.”
Life“I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”
Love“A good picture is equivalent to a good deed.”
Good“But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.”
Best“Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.”
Knowledge“An artist needn't be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.”
Men“I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.”
Work“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.”
Nature“The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.”
Love“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”
Courage“Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.”
Faith“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 done well.”
Love“When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out and paint the stars.”
Nature