Mrs Van Gogh Quotes

“The ugliest building in Paris is both art and male. It has something to say. It commemorates the centennial of the French Revolution, it shouts France’s industrial competence to the world, it speaks of man’s expertise. The women of France are irrelevant and Eiffel’s tower is unapologetic about that.”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh

“Society always blames its women. No one talks about the man’s role in a once stable woman’s decline to ‘crazy’.”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh

“women are controlled by a fear of being branded with either of these words? To be marked ‘ugly’ or ‘difficult’ brings judgement, discomfit, rejection too – and so what do we do? We women step in accordance with male expectations and demands. Those words forever whispered: a threat, to shoot fear into our actions and decisions. But why is ‘ugly’ seen as bad? Why is being ‘difficult’ considered wicked? Are those words not merely concepts that are entirely indefinable? Perceptions even. Still”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh

“from his knee. I hear his sobs, and my head moves with his tremors. What I would do now to go back to Johanna Bonger: to explain to her the precious beauty of peace of mind, to show her the power gained from being loved, from giving love, to show her the worth of gratitude and truth. I’d tell her to grab happiness. I’d tell her that nothing”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh

“while Vincent looks like he’s been dragged through several hedges by a lame horse.”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh

“Being strong isn’t about being alone, being fiercely independent or rejecting love. It isn’t about rushing to act, to shout loudly, before considering what is best for any given situation or storm. Rather, I’ve realised that being strong is allowing love despite fear. It lives in the gaps and silences. It pauses to consider. It speaks with integrity and truth. It embraces flaws. It increases after errors. It rises.”
― Caroline Cauchi, Mrs Van Gogh