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
When we are at the end of life, to die means to go away; when we are at the beginning, to go away means to die.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the perceptions of life and death at different stages of existence.
Victor Hugo highlights the contrasting views of death and life transitions based on one's perspective in life. At the end of life, death is viewed as a departure, while in the early stages of life, the idea of departure is equated with death, suggesting a deep philosophical contemplation on mortality and the significance of beginnings and endings.
Themes
LifeDeathPerceptionTransitionPhilosophy
In practice
Example use cases
In a reflective speech at a memorial service, one might use this quote to illustrate the journey of life.
More from Victor Hugo
All quotes →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.
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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.
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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.
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Taste is the common sense of genius.
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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!
Victor HugoRead
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