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
Fame must have enemies, as light must have gnats.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Fame inevitably attracts criticism and jealousy, much like light attracts insects.
In this quote, Victor Hugo suggests that fame is a double-edged sword; while it brings recognition and admiration, it also generates envy and hostility. Just as light draws gnats and other insects, those who attain fame can expect to face adversaries and detractors as part of the territory that comes with being in the spotlight. This illustrates the complex relationship between success and the challenges that accompany it.
Themes
FameEnemiesCriticismSuccessLight
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about the trials of public figures.
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.
Victor HugoRead
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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