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
...But listen, there will be more joy in heaven over the tears of a repentant sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the value of repentance over mere righteousness.
Victor Hugo's quote suggests that true remorse and repentance hold greater significance than the virtue exhibited by those who consistently do right. It highlights the transformative power of recognizing one's mistakes and seeking forgiveness, implying that such emotional sincerity is profoundly meaningful in the eyes of the divine.
Themes
RepentanceJoyHeavenForgivenessRighteousness
In practice
Example use cases
In a sermon discussing the importance of humility and repentance.
More from Victor Hugo
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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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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