. . . for men felt therein the presence of that great human thing which is called law, and that great divine thing which is called justice.

That is because our barricade is made of good intentions.

You have enemies? Why, it is the story of every man who has done a great deed or created a new idea. It is the cloud which thunders around everything that shines. Fame must have...

Il volgo è un vecchio Narciso che adora se stesso e applaude il volgare.

God will reward you,’ he said. ‘You must be an angel since you care for flowers.

I propose a toast to mirth; be merry! Let us complete our course of law by folly and eating! Indigestion and the digest. let Justinian be the male, and Feasting, the female! Joy the depths!...

It is not easy to keep silent when silence is a lie.

Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent

He loved books; books are cold but safe friends.

Ever since history has been written, ever since philosophy has meditated, misery has been the garment of the human race.

So you’re giving up? That’s it? Okay, okay. We’ll leave you alone, Quasimodo. We just thought, maybe you’re made up of something much stronger.

And do you know Monsieur Marius? I believe I was a little in love with you.

Wide horizons lead the soul to broad ideas; circumscribed horizons engender narrow ideas; this sometimes condemns great hearts to become small minded.Broad ideas hated by narrow ideas,—this is the very struggle of progress.

Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men

To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.

If we wish to be happy, monsieur, we must never comprehend duty; for, as soon as we comprehend it, it is implacable. One would say that it punishes you for comprehending it; but no, it...

A week passed, and Jean Valjean had not taken a step in his room. He still remained in bed. The portress said to her husband:–”The good man upstairs yonder does not get up, he no...

The glance of women resembles certain combinations of wheels, which are tranquil in appearance yet formidable. You pass close to them every day, peaceably and with impunity, and without a suspicion of anything. A moment...