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What am I in the eyes of most people - a nonentity, an eccentric, or an unpleasant person - somebody who has no position in society and will never have; in short, the lowest of the low. All right, then - even if that were absolutely true, then I should one day like to show by my work what such an eccentric, such a nobody, has in his heart.
Vincent Van Gogh
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses Van Gogh's feelings of alienation and his desire to be recognized for the value of his inner self and artistic expression.

In this quote, Vincent Van Gogh contemplates how society perceives him as a mere 'nonentity' or 'eccentric.' Regardless of how he is viewed by others, he expresses a profound determination to convey his inner thoughts and emotions through his art, emphasizing that one's true worth and heart can be revealed through creative expression rather than societal validation.

Themes

IdentityArtSelf-ExpressionSocietyValue

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in an art class discussion about the personal struggles of artists.

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A little wisdom, now and then

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