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
There are people who observe the rules of honor as one observes the stars, from a great distance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the tendency of some individuals to adhere to moral principles only superficially, without truly understanding or engaging with them.
Victor Hugo's quote suggests that many people respect and follow honor and ethics in a detached manner, akin to observing distant stars. This signifies that while they recognize these principles as important, they fail to internalize or apply them meaningfully in their lives. The implication is that true honor requires a close and dedicated engagement, rather than mere observation from afar.
Themes
HonorEthicsObservationDistanceEngagement
In practice
Example use cases
During a seminar on ethics, one might refer to this quote to discuss the importance of actively embodying one's moral values.
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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