“Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.”
- March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890
- Dutch
- Painter, Post-Impressionist Artist, Pioneer of Modern Art
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Quote
“Even the knowledge of my own fallibility cannot keep me from making mistakes. Only when I fall do I get up again.”
Explanation
This quote reflects a humble and honest recognition of human imperfection. Van Gogh admits that even knowing he is flawed—“fallible”—does not prevent him from continuing to make errors. This acceptance of imperfection is not defeatist, but realistic. What matters most is not avoiding mistakes, but the ability to rise again after falling, to learn, persist, and grow through struggle.
Van Gogh’s life was marked by repeated failures and setbacks—emotional breakdowns, poverty, rejection—but he continued to paint with tireless resolve. His awareness of his own mental and emotional fragility did not stop him from creating. Instead, he treated each failure not as the end, but as a moment to begin again. This quote reveals his philosophy of resilience, rooted in action rather than perfection.
In the modern world, where perfection is often idealized and failure stigmatized, Van Gogh’s words offer a liberating truth: knowing your limits doesn’t exempt you from falling, but falling is part of becoming stronger. Mistakes are inevitable, but growth comes from the courage to rise each time. It’s a timeless reminder that falling is not failure—refusing to get back up is.
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