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About this quote

What does it mean?
Van Gogh says fighting hard for good goals keeps us from evil and builds inner strength. The harder life gets, the more we grow through the struggle.
In plain terms
Working hard on good things protects us from badness and makes us stronger inside.
What can you take from it?
Struggle builds character and keeps you on the right path.

Where it applies

  • facing life challenges
  • pursuing difficult goals
  • facing hardship

Putting it to work

  • accept difficulty as growth
  • focus on ethical work
  • trust the process

Questions to consider

  • Does struggle always build strength?
  • How do you define a righteous battle?

Another view

It assumes hardship always leads to strength rather than destruction.

More from Vincent Van Gogh

  1. When I have a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out and paint the stars.

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  2. You will say that everyone has seen landscapes and figures from childhood on. The question is: Has everybody also been reflexive as a child? Has everybody who …

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  3. What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?

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