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
You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again. & great happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved. Loved for ourselves. & even loved in spite of ourselves.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True love requires selflessness and generosity, intertwining the act of giving with the essence of loving.
In this profound quote by Victor Hugo, he underscores that while one may give without love, true love inherently involves a commitment to giving and selflessness. He further elaborates on love's transformative power, suggesting that through small acts of kindness, we embody love and foster deeper connections. Moreover, love provides a sense of fulfillment and belonging, assuring us that even in solitude, we carry the warmth of love, leading to genuine happiness in knowing we are cherished for who we are, including our flaws.
Themes
LoveGivingKindnessHappinessSelflessness
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding ceremony to emphasize the importance of love and giving in relationships.
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!
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Myself, and all the Angelic Host, that stand in the sight of God enthroned, our happy state hold, as you yours, while our obedience hold. On other surety none: freely we serve, because we freely love.
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There is hardly a more gracious gift that we can offer somebody than to accept them fully, to love them almost despite themselves.
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