I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day.

If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.

I experience a period of frightening clarity in those moments when nature is so beautiful. I am no longer sure of myself, and the paintings appear as in a dream.

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

I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.

The way to know life is to love many things.

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

I dream of painting and then I paint my dream.

I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God's help I shall succeed.

The best way to know God is to love many things.

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke.

In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.

As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.

Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.

Those Dutchmen had hardly any imagination or fantasy, but their good taste and their scientific knowledge of composition were enormous.

For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality is more important than the feeling for pictures.

Poetry surrounds us everywhere, but putting it on paper is, alas, not so easy as looking at it.

If boyhood and youth are but vanity, must it not be our ambition to become men?

An artist needn't be a clergyman or a churchwarden, but he certainly must have a warm heart for his fellow men.

I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.

One must work and dare if one really wants to live.

What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

Painting is a faith, and it imposes the duty to disregard public opinion.

Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.