Category: Others

From Vincent Van Gogh

Many a man has a bonfire in his heart and nobody comes to warm himself at it. The passers-by notice only a little smoke from the chimney, and go their way… I am drawn more to the conclusion that to love much is the best means of approaching God. Love a friend, any one, or anything you like, and I tell you, you will be on the right road to learn more. You must love with a high and intense determination, with your will and intellect, and seek always to deepen, expand and improve your knowledge, for that way lies God. If a man loves Rembrandt profoundly, then in his heart of hearts he knows God. Another man may study the history of the French Revolution, and he will not be a sceptic, for he will feel the power that shapes our ends. If you have attended the free lectures at the College of Misery, for a short time even, and have paid attention to what you have seen with your own eyes and heard with your own ears, you will reap a firm faith and learn more than you can express in words. He that hath eyes to see, let him see. Afterwards you can be a little abstracted at times, and dream awhile. I know that some become too abstracted, too dreamy, and it may quite well happen to me one of these days. They say the dreamer falls sometimes into the well, but afterward he climbs up again.

– Vincent Van Gogh (July 1880)
In Statements and Documents: Artists on Art and Reality, on Their Work, and on Values © 1960 American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

From Phillip Wheeler

On Writing:

Start with something mundane, knowing that you’ll likely end up in some high-flown metaphor no matter where you start. Ask yourself again if you can access the feeling underneath or behind the one you are currently describing without evaporating into philosophical abstractions. Cling desperately to the salamander of the present moment, ignoring all external stimuli, even if you end up spending dozens of lines whittling a fading thought into crumbs… at least you have a nice pen. A nice shiny silver pen. At least now you know that thought wasn’t worth including. At least you’ve spent your time wisely. Don’t stop now. – Phillip Wheeler

From Ned Rorem

“I never go to concerts any more, and I don’t know anyone who does. It’s hard still to care whether some virtuoso tonight will perform the Moonlight Sonata a bit better or worse than another virtuoso performed it last night. I do often attend what used to be called avant-garde recitals, though seldom with delight, and inevitably I look around and wonder: What am I doing here? What am I learning? Where are the poets and painters and even composers who used to flock to these things?”

– Ned Rorem