3. Ironical reference to a remark made by Uncle J.P. Stricker; see letter 180.

4. It is not known exactly which drawings Van Gogh is referring to, though they were possibly among those mentioned in letter 181.

5. Van Gogh’s uncle, J.P. Stricker, the father of Kee Vos. Regarding this plan, see letter 181.

6. A reference to Petites misères de la vie humaine, a book by Old Nick and Grandville, see letter 178, n. 6.

7. A saying. Cf. John Gill, An exposition of the Old Testament (1852-1854), in which Gill remarks in his commentary to Psalm 91:9: ‘the psalmist himself, seeing his safety in the midst of danger, and ascribing it to the Lord’. London 1853, vol. 3, p. 240. Cf. the Chinese proverb ‘Go straight to the heart of danger, for there you will find safety’. Also quoted in letter 194, where it is worded somewhat differently.

8. Read: ‘an outsider’. The Philistines were among the Israelites’ many oppressors. Later in the letter Van Gogh quotes from the Book of Judges, in which the Philistines are mentioned frequently.

9. The expression, which originated with Theo, recurs frequently in the correspondence (see letters 191, 193 and 228).

10. This phrase comes from William Shakespeare, As you like it. Act 2, scene 1: ‘I smile, and say “This is no flattery. These are the counsellors that feelingly persuade me what I am”’. See ed. Agnes Latham. London 1975, p. 30.

11. Judg. 14:14.

12. Judg. 14:5-6.

13. Taken from the 9th article of the Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen of 1789: ‘Since every man is presumed innocent until he is declared guilty, if it is deemed essential to arrest him, any harsh treatment unnecessary in securing his person must be severely dealt with by the law.’ (Tout homme étant présumé innocent jusqu’à ce qu’il ait été déclaré coupable, s’il est jugé indispensable de l’arrêter, toute rigueur qui ne serait pas nécessaire pour s’assurer de sa personne doit être sévèrement réprimée par la loi). The Déclaration, which consists of 17 articles and an introduction, served as a preface to the French Constitution of 1791.

a. Meaning: ‘in grote hoeveelheden’ (in large quantities).

14. Van Gogh presumably borrowed this expression from a publication about Tissot (see letter 158, n. 26).

15. Considering what Van Gogh says about this matter in letter 183 (ll. 277-281), this could be an allusion to his infatuation with Caroline Haanebeek, around 1873. See Cassee 1997.

16. This saying is also quoted in letters 183, 187 and 189.

17. Biblical; occurring, among other places, in Judg. 18:23-24.

18. In Matt. 16:19 Christ gives the ‘keys of the kingdom of heaven’ to the apostle Peter, who is consequently depicted – often together with Paul – with one or more keys as attributes.

19. Cf. Josh. 22:22; 2 Cor. 11:11, 12:2 and 12:3.