There are neither good nor evil, only the existence and action.

I spend several years trying to get inside the brain and heart of my subjects, listening to the interior monologues in their letters, and when I have to bridge the chasms between the factual evidence, I try to make an intuitive leap through the eyes and motivation of the person I'm writing about.

Reading has always been the largest and most irreplaceable pleasure for Vincent; reading about other people's successes and failures, joys and sufferings seemed to bury his own failures.

No man is born into the world whose work is not born with him.

Reading is a stouthearted activity, disporting courage, keenness, stick-to-it-ness.

Being mad is even pleasant. But only a madman understands that.

Religion will never show the way.