It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky... a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.
Victor HugoRead
A criminal remains a criminal whether he uses a convict's suit or a monarch's crown.
Interpretation
One's moral character does not change based on their status or appearance.
This quote by Victor Hugo emphasizes that a person's true nature is independent of their external circumstances or societal status. Whether someone is dressed in rags or royal garments, their moral integrity or criminal behavior remains the same, highlighting the idea that appearances can be deceiving and that true character lies within.
In practice
During a speech on justice, this quote could underscore the need for equality before the law.
It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky... a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.
When two mouths, made sacred by love, draw near to each other to create, it is impossible, that above that ineffable kiss there should not be a thrill in the immense mystery of the stars.
At that moment of love, a moment when passion is absolutely silent under omnipotence of ecstasy, Marius, pure seraphic Marius, would have been more capable of visiting a woman of the streets than of raising Cosette’s dress above the ankle. Once on a moonlit night, Cosette stopped to pick up something from the ground, her dress loosened and revealed the swelling of her breasts. Marius averted his eyes.
Thought is the work of the intellect, reverie is its self-indulgence. To substitute day-dreaming for thought is to confuse a poison with a source of nourishment.
Taste is the common sense of genius.
Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man.... Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!
I am indeed amazed when I consider how weak my mind is and how prone to error.
The lessons of religious toleration - a toleration which recognizes complete liberty of human thought, liberty of conscience - is one which, by precept and example, must be inculcated in the hearts and minds of all Americans if the institutions of our democracy are to be maintained and perpetuated. We must recognize the fundamental rights of man. There can be no true national life in our democracy unless we give unqualified recognition to freedom of religious worship and freedom of education.
When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
It is good to be a cynic - it is better to be a contented cat - and it is best not to exist at all.
The real fight is about what should be in the marketplace and what should not. Should education be a marketable commodity? Should healthcare?
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