I, for one, am a man of passions, capable of and liable to do rather foolish things for which I sometimes feel rather sorry. I do often find myself speaking or acting somewhat too quickly when it would be better to wait more patiently. I think that other people may also sometimes do similar foolish things. Now that being so, what’s to be done, must one consider oneself a dangerous man, incapable of anything at all? I don’t think so. But it’s a matter of trying by every means to turn even these passions to good account. For example, to name one passion among others, I have a more or less irresistible passion for books, and I have a need continually to educate myself, to study, if you like, precisely as I need to eat my bread.
Letters to Theo
Vincent Van Gogh's younger brother, Theo was his closest friend. "Theo's unwavering support of his brother ensured that Vincent's great work will never be forgotten. In addition, the vast amount of correspondence between the two brothers has provided many insights into the work and the heart of Vincent van Gogh."
The Postman
"One of van Gogh's closest friends and favorite sitters in Arles was the local postman, Joseph Roulin. While painting this work, van Gogh wrote to his brother, "I am now at work with another model, a postman in blue uniform, trimmed with gold, a big bearded face, very like Socrates." Indeed, the modest postman has all the authority of an admiral." MFA
“I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort—and disappointment and perseverance.”
—Vincent van Gogh, The Hague, September 9, 1882, to Theo van Gogh
