Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art. In just over a decade he created approximately 2100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last two years of his life.

Below is a selection of his observations, most of which were included in letters to his brother Theo.

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If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.

It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitation, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.

I would rather die of passion than of boredom.

It is good to love many things, for therein lies strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done with love is well done.

I don’t know anything with certainty, but seeing the stars makes me dream.

There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.

The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.

I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.

I put my heart & soul into my work, & have lost my mind in the process. It is looking at things for a long time that ripens you and gives you a deeper meaning.

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.

I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.

I try more and more to be myself, caring relatively little whether people approve or disapprove.

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.

Exaggerate the essential, leave the obvious vague.

Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all.

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

I’m such a nobody.

I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.

I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God’s help I shall succeed.

Whoever loves much, performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

Only when I fall do I get up again.

In the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically.

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.

The beginning is perhaps more difficult than anything else, but keep heart, it will turn out all right.

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To learn more about Vincent Van Gogh and his work, please click here.