The left-handed are precious; they take places which are inconvenient for the rest.

The production of souls is the secret of unfathomable depth.

Though one believes in nothing, there are moments in life when one accepts the religion of the temple nearest at hand.

A benevolent malefactor, merciful, gentle, helpful, clement, a convict, returning good for evil, giving back pardon for hatred, preferring pity to vengeance, preferring to ruin himself rather than to ruin his enemy, saving him who had smitten him, kneeling on the heights of virtue, more nearly akin to an angel than to a man. Javert was constrained to admit to himself that this monster existed. Things could not go on in this manner.

Idleness is a mother. She has a son, robbery, and a daughter, hunger.

A republic may be called the climate of civilization.

Die, very good, but do not make others die. Suicides like the one which is about to take place here are sublime, but suicide is restricted, and does not allow of extension; and so soon as it affects your neighbors, suicide becomes murder.