--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I believe that it may happen that one…" description: "\"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 sometim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/vincent-van-gogh-486_believe_i-believe-that-it-may-happen-that-one-wi_2220883.jpg" --- # I believe that it may happen that one will succeed, and… ![“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…” quote by Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/vincent-van-gogh-486_believe_i-believe-that-it-may-happen-that-one-wi_2220883.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/vincent-van-gogh-486_believe_i-believe-that-it-may-happen-that-one-wi_2220883.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ae/vincent-van-gogh-486_believe_i-believe-that-it-may-happen-that-one-wi_2220883.jpg) > “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.” [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Courage Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage-great-1283718/) [Decay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decay/) [Defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defeated/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Drawing Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing-does-2112816/) [Expected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expected/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Great things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-things/) [Happens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happens/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Here and there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here-and-there/) [I believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-believe/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Invisible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/invisible/) [Iron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iron/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall/) [Willed Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/willed-drawing-4956034/) ## Related quotes > [What is drawing? How does one get there? It's working one's way through an invisible iron wall that seems to stand between what one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-is-drawing-how-does-one-get-there-it-s-working-one-s-way-through/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [To draw does not simply mean to reproduce contours; the drawing does not simply consist in the idea: the drawing is even the expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/to-draw-does-not-simply-mean-to-reproduce-contours-the-drawing-does/) [Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/) > [“Writing is so much more problematic than drawing, full of moral pitfalls, ambiguity, public responsibility. If you record a day of your life, does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/writing-is-so-much-more-problematic-than-drawing-full-of-moral/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [Drawing is the probity of art. To draw does not mean simply to reproduce contours; drawing does not consist merely of line: drawing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/drawing-is-the-probity-of-art-to-draw-does-not-mean-simply-to/) [Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-auguste-dominique-ingres/) > [Physical courage is a great test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/physical-courage-is-a-great-test/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [Isabel Wilkerson's book is a masterful narrative of the rich wisdom and deep courage of a great people. Don't miss it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/isabel-wilkerson-s-book-is-a-masterful-narrative-of-the-rich-wisdom/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“Tom’s cowardice was as huge as his courage, as it must be in great men. His violence balanced his tenderness, and himself was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/tom-s-cowardice-was-as-huge-as-his-courage-as-it-must-be-in-great-men-2/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“All it takes is 20 seconds of insane courage and great things will happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-mee/all-it-takes-is-20-seconds-of-insane-courage-and-great-things-will/) [Benjamin Mee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-mee/) > [This country was founded and built by people with great dreams and the courage to take great risks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/this-country-was-founded-and-built-by-people-with-great-dreams-and/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Courage: Great Russian word, fit for the songs of our children's children, pure on their tongues, and free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-akhmatova/courage-great-russian-word-fit-for-the-songs-of-our-children-s/) [Anna Akhmatova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-akhmatova/) > [“Our goal, which we believed to be honorable and noble, gave us courage. And courage is a remarkable quality. Nothing and nobody can stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-mcraven/our-goal-which-we-believed-to-be-honorable-and-noble-gave-us-courage/) [William H. McRaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-mcraven/) > [I have reached the conclusion that those who have physical courage also have moral courage. Physical courage is a great test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/i-have-reached-the-conclusion-that-those-who-have-physical-courage/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [“When going out of your material body, after the return, the courage becomes so great that you can tread on things that can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-going-out-of-your-material-body-after-the-return-the-courage/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“Tom's cowardice was as huge as his courage, as it must be in great men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/tom-s-cowardice-was-as-huge-as-his-courage-as-it-must-be-in-great-men/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The courage of a great many men, and the virtue of a great many women, are the effect of vanity, shame, and especially a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/the-courage-of-a-great-many-men-and-the-virtue-of-a-great-many-women/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) ## More by Vincent Van Gogh > [What am I in most people's eyes? A nonentity or an eccentric and disagreeable man... I should want my work to show what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-am-i-in-most-people-s-eyes-a-nonentity-or-an-eccentric-and/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/the-heart-of-man-is-very-much-like-the-sea-it-has-its-storms-it-has/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [“I take great care of myself by carefully shutting myself away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/i-take-great-care-of-myself-by-carefully-shutting-myself-away/) [Vincent van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [There certainly is an affinity between a person and his work, but it is not easy to define what this affinity is, and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/there-certainly-is-an-affinity-between-a-person-and-his-work-but-it/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [I confess I do not know why, but looking at the stars always makes me dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/i-confess-i-do-not-know-why-but-looking-at-the-stars-always-makes-me/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [Ah, Manet has come very, very close to it and Courbet - the marrying of form and colour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/ah-manet-has-come-very-very-close-to-it-and-courbet-the-marrying-of/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [We must not judge God from this world. It's just a study that didn't come off. It's only a master who could make such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/we-must-not-judge-god-from-this-world-it-s-just-a-study-that-didn-t/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/our-goals-can-only-be-reached-through-a-vehicle-of-a-plan-in-which-we/) [Vincent van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [One can never study nature too much and too hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/one-can-never-study-nature-too-much-and-too-hard/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [But by fighting the difficulties in which one finds oneself, an inner strength develops from within our heart, which improves in life's fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/but-by-fighting-the-difficulties-in-which-one-finds-oneself-an-inner/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [Ah! My dear friend painting is to us what the music of Berlioz and Wagner was before us - a consolatory art for sore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/ah-my-dear-friend-painting-is-to-us-what-the-music-of-berlioz-and/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [Painting demands an intelligent model.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/painting-demands-an-intelligent-model/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [That this awareness of my own fallibility will prevent me from making many mistakes doesn't alter the fact that I'm bound to make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/that-this-awareness-of-my-own-fallibility-will-prevent-me-from-making/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [What is drawing? It is working oneself through an invisible iron wall that seems to stand between what one feels and what one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-is-drawing-it-is-working-oneself-through-an-invisible-iron-wall/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) > [You will say that everyone has seen landscapes and figures from childhood on. The question is: Has everybody also been reflexive as a child?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/you-will-say-that-everyone-has-seen-landscapes-and-figures-from/) [Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) [Explore all 508 Vincent Van Gogh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. 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