Hard days Quote by Vincent Van Gogh
““Quick work doesn't mean less serious work, it depends on one's self-confidence and experience. In the same way Jules Guérard, the lion hunter, says in his book that in the beginning young lions have a lot of trouble killing a horse or an ox, but that the old lions kill with a single blow of the paw or a well-placed bite, and that they are amazingly sure at the job... I must warn you that everyone will think that I work too fast. Don't you believe a word of it. Is it not emotion, the sincerity of one's feeling for nature, that draws us, and if the emotions are sometimes so strong that one works without knowing one works, when sometimes the strokes come with a continuity and coherence like words in a speech or a letter, then one must remember that it has not always been so, and that in time to come there will again be hard days, empty of inspiration. So one must strike while the iron is hot, and put the forged bars on one side.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Unknown, possibly personal notes
Speed does not diminish seriousness; confidence and experience enable swift, effective work, but reliance on fleeting inspiration can be risky.
In simple terms: Fast work can be serious if skilled, but may lack lasting inspiration.
Key Takeaway
Balance confidence with steady practice.
Themes
confidence
skill
inspiration
work ethic
Mood
reflective
determined
Type
advisory
philosophical
When to use this quote
- creative projects
- tight deadlines
- skill development
- artistic practice
Key Concepts
psychology of performance
flow state
motivation
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you maintain inspiration during fast work?
- What practices sustain long‑term creativity?
A Different Perspective
Rapid output may falter without deep, lasting inspiration.
