Vincent van Gogh — "I am a tool in the hands of nature."

"I am not myself, I am my environment."

"I want to paint men and women with that something of the eternal which the halo used to symbolize, and which we seek to convey by the actual radiance and vibration of our colouring."

"And as for the causes and consequences of said illness, I think I shall be wise to leave the solving of these problems to the fortuitous discussions of the Dutch catechists, that is to say whether I a…"

"Well, well, after all there are so many painters who are cracked in one way or another that little by little I shall be reconciled to it. I understand..."

"The uglier, older, meaner, iller, poorer I get, the more I wish to take my revenge by doing brilliant colour, well arranged, resplendent."