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
Being good is easy, what is difficult is being just.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being morally good is simple, but true justice is a complex challenge.
In this quote, Victor Hugo highlights the distinction between being good and being just. While it might be straightforward to act in a kind and caring manner towards others, achieving true justice requires a deeper understanding of fairness, impartiality, and the nuances of moral dilemmas. Justice involves difficult decisions and a commitment to uphold the rights of all individuals, making it a more profound and challenging pursuit.
Themes
JusticeMoralityFairnessEthicsChallenge
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion on ethics in a philosophy class.
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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