2020-02-29 梵高写给弟弟的信

在今天这个四年才有的一天，读到了梵高写给弟弟的信，被他的赤子之心感动。感叹的是，在今天的我们比起梵高的年代，我们有机会通过更多的方式向全世界去展示我们想做的事情；悲哀的是，在物质不再匮乏的今天的我们，能否拥有一颗赤子之心已是难得，更别谈面对横流的欲望，如何去保留、保持一颗赤子之心。

引用杨亮老师的评价：当一个人从内心真正热爱一件事情的时候，他的措辞是那么具有感染力。

I have a more or less irresistible passionfor books, and I have a need continually to educate myself, to study, if youlike, precisely as I need to eat my bread. When I was in differentsurroundings, in surroundings of paintings and works of art, you well know thatI then took a violent passion for those surroundings that went as far asenthusiasm. And I don’t repent it. And now far from country again. I often feelhomesick for the country of paintings. Now I no longer have those surroundings,however, that something that’s called soul, they claim that it never dies andthen it lives for ever, and seeks for ever and for ever and for evermore. It’strue that I’ve lost several people’s trust; it’s true that my financial affairsare in a sorry state; it’s true that the future’s not a little dark; it’s truethat I could have done better; it’s true that just in terms of earning myliving I’ve lost time…And that I lack more, infinitely more than I have. But isthat called going downhill, and is that called doing nothing? But on the road thatI’m on I must continue…one of the reasons why I’m now without position, why I’vebeen without a position for years, it’s quite simply, because I have differentideas from these gentlemen who give positions to individuals who think likethem. It’s not a simple matter of appearance, as people have hypocriticallyheld it against me, it’s something more serious than that, I assure you. Someonehas a great fire in his soul and nobody ever comes to warm themselves at it,and passers-by see nothing but a little smoke at the top of the chimney andthen go on their way. So now what do we to do? Keep this fire alive inside, have salt in ourselves, wait patiently. But with how much impatience, await the hour? I say, when whoever wants to, will come and sit down there, will staythere. For all I know? May whoever believes in god await the hour, which willcome sooner or later.

《loving Vincent》