“In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.”
- March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890
- Dutch
- Painter, Post-Impressionist Artist, Pioneer of Modern Art
table of contents
Quote
“In spite of everything I shall rise again: I will take up my pencil, which I have forsaken in my great discouragement, and I will go on with my drawing.”
Explanation
This quote conveys a powerful message of resilience in the face of despair. Van Gogh acknowledges the weight of his discouragement—so heavy that it caused him to abandon his art—but he also affirms a determined return to purpose. The act of taking up his pencil again symbolizes not just a resumption of drawing, but a renewal of hope, courage, and identity as an artist.
Van Gogh’s life was filled with emotional turmoil, mental illness, and deep loneliness. Yet again and again, he returned to his art as a way to cope, heal, and express the beauty he still saw in the world. This quote reveals that even when overwhelmed, he still believed in the redemptive power of creativity. Drawing was not just a task—it was a lifeline, a way to continue living meaningfully in the face of hardship.
For anyone confronting failure, depression, or burnout, Van Gogh’s words offer profound encouragement. To rise again is not to erase the pain, but to continue despite it. Picking up the “pencil” can be anything: returning to a project, a passion, or a calling that once felt impossible to face. This quote reminds us that resilience is not about never falling—it’s about always choosing to begin again.
Would you like to share your impressions or related stories about this quote in the comments section?
