Victor Hugo

There are people who observe the rules of honor as one observes the stars, from a great distance.

There is in every village a torch - the teacher; and an extinguisher - the priest.

What love commences can be finished by God alone.

Diamonds are found only in the dark places of the earth, truths are found only in the depths of thought.

Ah! There you are! he exclaimed, looking at Jean Valjean. I'm so glad to see you. Well, but how is this? I gave you the candlesticks too, which are of silver like the rest, and for which you can certainly get two hundred francs. Why did you not carry them away with your forks and spoons?

Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls.

A strange thing has happened, do you know? I am in darkness. There is a person who, departing, took away the sun.

As with stomachs, we should pity minds that do not eat.

I advance in life, I grow more simple, and I become more and more patriotic for humanity.

She was sad with an obscure sadness of which she had not the secret herself. There was in her whole person the stupor of a life ended but never commenced.

Nothing can be sadder or more profound than to see a thousand things for the first and last time.

The cruel of heart have their own black happiness.

France is great because she is France.

The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.

People weighed down with troubles do not look back; they know only too well that misfortune stalks them.

When the heart is dry the eye is dry.

A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in--what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.

He reached for his pocket, and found there, only reality

Promise to give me a kiss on my brow when I am dead.--I shall feel it.

These two beings, who had loved each other so exclusively, and with so touching a love, and who had lived so long for each other, were now suffering beside one another and through one another; without speaking of it, without harsh feeling, and smiling all the while.

If he had had all Peru in his pocket, he would certainly have given it to this dancer; but Gringoire had not Peru in his pocket; and besides, America was not yet discovered. (p. 66)