--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What I need is courage, and this often…" description: "\"What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is also a fact that since my disease, when I am in the fields I am overwhelmed by a feeling of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg" --- # What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is… ![“What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is also a fact that since my disease, when I am in the fields I am overwhelmed by a feeling of loneliness to such a horrible extent that I shy away from going out. But this will change all the same as time goes on. Only when I stand a…” quote by Vincent Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg) > “What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is also a fact that since my disease, when I am in the fields I am overwhelmed by a feeling of loneliness to such a horrible extent that I shy away from going out. But this will change all the same as time goes on. Only when I stand a painting before my easel do I feel somewhat alive. Never mind, this is going to change too, for now my health is so good that I suppose the physical part of me will gain the victory.” [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. The artist feels isolated and fearful, yet painting revives his sense of life; health will improve over time. **In simple terms:** Loneliness, art heals; health will get better. Key Takeaway Use creative work to combat isolation and fear. Themes loneliness creativity healing health hope Mood melancholic hopeful Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - painting - journaling - music - community activities Key Concepts art therapy mental health personal resilience recovery self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What creative outlet helps you feel alive? - How can you balance health concerns with artistic pursuits? A Different Perspective Art may not replace professional help for severe depression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Disease](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disease/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failing/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feeling Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-loneliness/) [Feeling Of Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-of-loneliness/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fields/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goes-on/) [Going out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-out/) [Horrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horrible/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Need Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-courage/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Overwhelmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed/) [Overwhelmed Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overwhelmed-feeling-2203312/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Shy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shy/) [Time goes on](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-goes-on/) [Victory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victory/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes you never feel lonelier than when you are always doing tons of things and traveling all over the place. There is a real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-ghesquiere/sometimes-you-never-feel-lonelier-than-when-you-are-always-doing-tons/) [Nicolas Ghesquiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-ghesquiere/) > [“...Maybe instead of fire and brimstone, hell is just a feeling of loneliness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-huntley/maybe-instead-of-fire-and-brimstone-hell-is-just-a-feeling-of/) [Amy Huntley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-huntley/) > [“A terrible feeling of loneliness besieged her, so strong it was almost like physical pain...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-wilde/a-terrible-feeling-of-loneliness-besieged-her-so-strong-it-was-almost/) [Jennifer Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-wilde/) > [I have found ways to kill this ever-present feeling of loneliness. I try a new dish and experiment with food, I'll clean my cupboard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/i-have-found-ways-to-kill-this-ever-present-feeling-of-loneliness-i/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [“The only way to escape the feeling of loneliness is to just be silent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-withrow/the-only-way-to-escape-the-feeling-of-loneliness-is-to-just-be-silent/) [Sonya Withrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-withrow/) > [The more specific you are about a very general feeling of loneliness is actually how you connect with people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-bridgers/the-more-specific-you-are-about-a-very-general-feeling-of-loneliness/) [Phoebe Bridgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-bridgers/) > [“There comes a time when something changes you... No matter the impact... Where the world no longer beats in time with you. You no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-nicole/there-comes-a-time-when-something-changes-you-no-matter-the-impact/) [Solange nicole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-nicole/) > [When you walk into a room, and you're the only one of something - the only woman or the only African American - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-brown-philpot/when-you-walk-into-a-room-and-you-re-the-only-one-of-something-the/) [Stacy Brown-Philpot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-brown-philpot/) > [Because of my childhood where I was constantly by myself, I always feel lonely. I have a lot of people that I absolutely love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/because-of-my-childhood-where-i-was-constantly-by-myself-i-always/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [“The evening wasn’t cold yet... But the air was turning sharp, with a fall feeling of loneliness coming. Something unaccountable pending in the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-haruf/the-evening-wasn-t-cold-yet-but-the-air-was-turning-sharp-with-a-fall/) [Kent Haruf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-haruf/) > [If youve ever had that feeling of loneliness, of being an outsider, it never quite leaves you. You can be happy or successful or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-burton/if-youve-ever-had-that-feeling-of-loneliness-of-being-an-outsider-it/) [Tim Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-burton/) > [After a breakup, there is a great feeling of loneliness that overcomes us. For so long, we felt that we were a part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-cing/after-a-breakup-there-is-a-great-feeling-of-loneliness-that-overcomes/) [Felicity Cing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-cing/) > [The secret to overcoming a feeling of loneliness is not going outside to meet people. That will only keep you from being alone. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-grant/the-secret-to-overcoming-a-feeling-of-loneliness-is-not-going-outside/) [Amy Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-grant/) > [People who know the feeling of loneliness... cannot help but love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-know-the-feeling-of-loneliness-cannot-help-but-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I look at old photos and it gives me joy and and tells me about the best time I spent with people but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-look-at-old-photos-and-it-gives-me-joy-and-and-tells-me-about-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Alive quotes > [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 feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is also a fact that since my disease, when I am in the fields I am overwhelmed by a feeling of loneliness to such a horrible extent that I shy away from going out. But this will change all the same as time goes on. Only when I stand a painting before my easel do I feel somewhat alive. Never mind, this is going to change too, for now my health is so good that I suppose the physical part of me will gain the victory.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Vincent Van Gogh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fails-me-and-it-is-also-a-fact/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Alive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fails-me-and-it-is-also-a-fact/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/829/vincent-van-gogh-486_alive_what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fa_1822349.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What I need is courage, and this often fails me. And it is also a fact that since my disease, when I am in…” — Vincent Van Gogh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Vincent Van Gogh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-van-gogh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What I need is courage, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fails-me-and-it-is-also-a-fact/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-van-gogh/what-i-need-is-courage-and-this-often-fails-me-and-it-is-also-a-fact/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```