“If boyhood and youth are but vanity, must it not be our ambition to become men?”
- March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890
- Dutch
- Painter, Post-Impressionist Artist, Pioneer of Modern Art
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Quote
“If boyhood and youth are but vanity, must it not be our ambition to become men?”
Explanation
This quote poses a philosophical reflection on maturity and purpose. Van Gogh challenges the idea that youth—often associated with impulsiveness, pride, and superficial pursuits—is inherently empty or vain. If that is true, he argues, then it must be our aspiration to grow into adulthood with substance, responsibility, and meaning. The contrast he draws between vanity and maturity highlights the moral and existential imperative to evolve.
Van Gogh, deeply introspective and often critical of his own past, viewed life as a journey toward deeper authenticity. In his letters, he often wrestled with the gap between youthful dreams and adult reality. This quote reflects his desire to move beyond immaturity or illusion, and instead embrace a more grounded and purposeful life—where art, suffering, and faith converge to create something enduring and sincere.
In a modern context, the quote invites us to consider what it truly means to “become men”—or, more broadly, mature human beings. It is not merely about age, but about cultivating character, integrity, and wisdom. It asks us to outgrow the vanity of surface-level pursuits and instead aim for lives marked by depth, service, and meaning, echoing a timeless call to personal growth.
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