Believe Quote by Vincent Van Gogh
“I believe that it may happen that one will succeed, and one must not begin to despair, even though defeated here and there; and even though one sometimes feels a kind of decay, though things go differently from the expected, it is necessary to take heart again and new courage. For the great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together. And great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed. What is drawing? How does one learn it? It is working through an invisible iron wall that seems to stand between what one feels and what one can do.”
About This Quote
Source Letter: Letter to Theo van Gogh, 1888
Success requires perseverance through setbacks and incremental effort; great achievements are intentional, not accidental.
In simple terms: Keep trying despite setbacks; small steps build big results.
Key Takeaway
Persist and plan small actions.
Themes
perseverance
intentionality
growth
resilience
willpower
Mood
determined
hopeful
reflective
Type
motivational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career setbacks
- creative projects
- learning new skills
- recovering from failure
Key Concepts
incremental progress
goal setting
psychology of motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- What small step can you take today toward a big goal?
- How do you rebuild courage after a setback?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook external factors that limit progress despite effort.
