It will not keep silent within yourself
Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from Drenthe, 19 November 1883
After all, no matter how much we may be our own enemies, I am beginning to realize more and more: "Man proposes and God disposes." An infinitely powerful force prevails over our doing right and wrong. . . . Ultimately I should feel so reassured were you to take up a brush that I should consider the momentary calamity and shipwreck of lesser importance than the certain knowledge that your future is moving in a direction you will never regret. . . .
At all events, I count it among the possibilities that you yourself may become conscious that painting is your vocation, and then, dear brother, Puritan "without knowing it", it might be that your days in Paris were numbered, that an old world closed itself to you, in a rather ungenerous way - but that at the same time a new world opened itself to you.
Well, think it over, a long or a short time. But it would be of little use if you said, Vincent, keep silent about it; for to that my answer is: Theo, it will not keep silent within yourself.
Letter 338
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
After all, no matter how much we may be our own enemies, I am beginning to realize more and more: "Man proposes and God disposes." An infinitely powerful force prevails over our doing right and wrong. . . . Ultimately I should feel so reassured were you to take up a brush that I should consider the momentary calamity and shipwreck of lesser importance than the certain knowledge that your future is moving in a direction you will never regret. . . .
At all events, I count it among the possibilities that you yourself may become conscious that painting is your vocation, and then, dear brother, Puritan "without knowing it", it might be that your days in Paris were numbered, that an old world closed itself to you, in a rather ungenerous way - but that at the same time a new world opened itself to you.
Well, think it over, a long or a short time. But it would be of little use if you said, Vincent, keep silent about it; for to that my answer is: Theo, it will not keep silent within yourself.
It is more difficult to repress
Than the source of great rivers.
Letter 338
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
Back to The Way of Vincent: Making art no matter what
Labels: calling, spirituality
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