A fall from such a height is rarely straight downwards.

During a wise man's whole life, his destiny holds his philosophy in a state of siege.

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.

He was fond of books, for they are cool and sure friends

The aim of art is almost divine: to bring to life again if it is writing history, to create if it is writing poetry.

There is one spectacle grander than the sea, That is the sky.

Who can be sure that Jean Valjean had not been on the verge of losing heart and giving up the struggle? In loving he recovered his strength. But the truth is that he was no less vulnerable than Cosette. He protected her and she sustained him. Thanks to him she could go forward into life, and thanks to her he could continue virtous. He was the child's support and she his mainstay. Sublime, unfathomable marvel of the balance of destiny!