Conscience is a man's compass
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, 12-18 December 1882
How can I know whether I shall reach some goal - how can I know beforehand whether the difficulties will or will not be overcome?
One must go on working silently, leaving the result to the future. If one prospect is closed, perhaps another will open itself - there must be some prospect, and a future too, even if we do not know its geography. Conscience is a man's compass, and though the needle sometimes deviates, though one often perceives irregularities.
Letter 253
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
How can I know whether I shall reach some goal - how can I know beforehand whether the difficulties will or will not be overcome?
One must go on working silently, leaving the result to the future. If one prospect is closed, perhaps another will open itself - there must be some prospect, and a future too, even if we do not know its geography. Conscience is a man's compass, and though the needle sometimes deviates, though one often perceives irregularities.
Letter 253
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: calling, hope, paradox, spirituality, work
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