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Now, there are people who say to me 'Why did you have anything to do with her,' - that's one fact. And there are people who say to her, 'Why did you have anything to do with him,' - that's another fact. Apart from that, both she and I have grief enough and trouble enough, but as for regrets - neither of us have any. Look here - I believe without question, or have the certain knowledge, that she loves me. I believe without question, or have the certain knowledge, that I love her. It has been sincerely meant. But has it also been foolish, etc? Perhaps, if you like - but aren't the wise ones, those who never do anything foolish, even more foolish in my eyes than I am in theirs?

Vincent Willem Van Gogh#16

LoveJudgmentChoicesRegretWisdom

About this quote

What does it mean?
Love and regret are personal; wisdom does not prevent deep emotional experiences.
In plain terms
I do not regret loving her, even if it seemed foolish to others.
What can you take from it?
Embrace deep feelings even if they seem foolish to others.

Where it applies

  • relationship failure
  • social judgment
  • heartbreak

Putting it to work

  • accept your choices
  • trust your feelings

Questions to consider

  • What makes love foolish?
  • Is avoiding risk wise?

Another view

Some actions truly are unwise and should be avoided.

More from Vincent Willem Van Gogh

  1. Do you know what makes the prison disappear? Every deep, genuine affection. Being friends, being brothers, loving, that is what opens the prison, with supreme …

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  2. You will say that I am not a success - vaincre or etre vaincu, [to conquer or to be conquered], it doesn't matter to me, one has feeling and movement in any ev…

    Permalink to quote #17
  3. People are often unable to do anything, imprisoned as they are in I don't know what kind of terrible, terrible, oh such terrible cage. I do know that there is …

    Permalink to quote #14

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