“One must work and dare if one really wants to live.”
- March 30, 1853 – July 29, 1890
- Dutch
- Painter, Post-Impressionist Artist, Pioneer of Modern Art
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Quote
“One must work and dare if one really wants to live.”
Explanation
This quote affirms that a meaningful life demands both effort and courage. To “work” is to engage actively with the world, to build, create, and persist. To “dare” is to take risks, face uncertainty, and challenge limitations. Van Gogh suggests that living fully is not passive—it is a deliberate, even defiant act that requires action and boldness in the face of fear or failure.
Van Gogh himself exemplified this idea. Despite repeated rejection, poverty, and personal suffering, he continued to paint with unwavering intensity and honesty. His works were often experimental and emotionally raw, and he pursued his vision without waiting for approval. For Van Gogh, both labor and bravery were necessary not just to create art, but to affirm one’s existence with purpose and authenticity.
In the modern world, the quote is a call to reject complacency and live with intention. Whether it’s starting a business, making art, advocating for justice, or simply living according to one’s values, it takes work to build a life worth living and daring to break from the safe and familiar. Van Gogh’s words remind us that vitality comes not from comfort, but from the willingness to strive and to risk.
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