I only take a half share in the civil war; I am willing to die, I am not willing to kill.

God has bestowed two gifts on man: hope and ignorance. Ignorance is the better of the two.

Doing nothing is happiness for children and misery for old men.

Do not forget, do not ever forget, that you have promised me to use the money to make yourself an honest man.' Valjean, who did not recall having made any promise, was silent. The bishop had spoken the words slowly and deliberately. He concluded with a solemn emphasis: Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to what is evil but to what is good. I have bought your soul to save it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God.

Go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

We must never fear robbers or murderers. They are dangers from outside, small dangers. It is ourselves we have to fear. Prejudice is the real robber, vice the real murderer. Why should we be troubled by a threat to our person or our pocket? What we have to beware of is the threat to our souls'.

Tobacco is the plant that converts thoughts into dreams.