"When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out and paint the stars."

Literature

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Insight & Reflection

This reflection on literature by Vincent van Gogh resonates across generations. It highlights a fundamental truth about human nature: our continuous search for meaning in literature is what ultimately defines our character and our path forward.

About Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Willem van Gogh 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 about 2,100 artworks, including around 860 oil paintings, most of them in the last two years of his life. They include landscapes, still lifes, portraits and self-portraits, and are characterised by bold colours and dramatic, impulsive and expressive brushwork that contributed to the foundations of modern art. His suicide at age 37 followed years of mental illness and poverty.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the Quotes Archive Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by Vincent van Gogh

"It is a enduring truth that strive today so that tomorrow may stand upon solid ground — an essential principle for the reflective life."

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More about Literature

"In a mood of faith and hope my work goes on. A ream of fresh paper lies on my desk waiting for the next book. I am a writer and I take up my pen to write."

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"My dad's got a brilliant eye for scripts 'cos he's a literary agent. He and my agent read a load of scripts and filter them."

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