"There are things which we feel to be good and true, though in the cold light of reason and calculation many things remain incomprehensible and dark. And though the society in which we live considers such actions thoughtless, or reckless, or I don't know what else, what can we say if once the hidden forces of sympathy and love have been roused in us? And though it may be that we cannot argue against the reasoning sentiment and to act from impulse, one would almost conclude that some people have cauterized certain sensitive nerves within them, especially those which, combined, are called conscience. Well, I pity those people; they travel through life without compass, in my opinion."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Letter from Vincent van Gogh to Theo, from The Hague, c. 11 January 1883; as cited in Dear Theo: the Autobiography of Vincent Van Gogh; ed. Irving Stone and Jean Stone (1995),
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Related Quotes
"But you must love with a sublime, genuine, profound sympathy, with devotion, with intelligence, and you must try all …"
"I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of mys…"
"My dear Theo, Thanks for your letter of this morning. Yesterday I saw the Corot exhibition. It included a painting of…"
"There was a sale here [in Paris] of drawings by Millet, I don't know whether I've already written to you about it. Wh…"
"Text: Psalm 119:19. I am a stranger on the earth, hide not Thy command ments from me. Are we what we dreamt we should…"
"I am sure you will like it, it is such a fine business [art-dealer].. ..I am so glad that we shall both be in the sam…"
"Always continue walking a lot and loving nature, for that’s the real way to learn to understand art better and better…"
"Vindt maar mooi zooveel je kunt, de meesten vinden niet genoeg mooi."
"I've got nature and art and poetry, and if that isn't enough, what is?"
"Some time ago I saw a painting by Thijs Maris [= Matthijs Maris, one of the three brothers Maris, all three famous Du…"