I have examined the death penalty under each of its two aspects: as a direct action, and as an indirect one. What does it come down to? Nothing but something horrible and useless, nothing but a way of shedding blood that is called a crime when an individual commits it, but is sadly called "justice" when society brings it about. Make no mistake, you lawmakers and judges, in the eyes of God as in those of conscience, what is a crime when individuals do it is no less an offense when society commits the deed.

I think I missed my calling. I should have been an interior decorator.

Genius is rare because the means of becoming one have not been available

Curiosity is one of the forms of feminine bravery.

Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.

Gavroche had fallen only to rise again; he sat up, a long stream of blood rolled down his face, he raised both arms in air, looked in the direction whence the shot came, and began to sing.

There is something more terrible than a hell of suffering--a hell of boredom.