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
The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The true culprit in moral transgressions is not the one who acts wrongly, but rather the one who fosters an environment of wrongdoing.
Victor Hugo's quote highlights the idea that moral responsibility extends beyond the individual who commits a sinful act; it is also the responsibility of those who create or perpetuate conditions that lead to such actions. By calling attention to the 'darkness' that influences people's choices, Hugo invites us to reflect on the broader societal and ethical implications of our actions, urging us to consider how our influence can lead others to stray from what is right.
Themes
GuiltDarknessResponsibilitySinMorality
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about accountability and moral choices in a community setting.
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All quotes βWhen 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 Cosetteβs 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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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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