There is no distress so complete but that even in the most critical moments the inexplicable sunrise of hope is seen in its depths.

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

The sewer is the conscience of the city.

Let us leave to the brain what belongs to it, and agree that the work of the men of genius is of the superhuman, the offspring of man.

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

Let us have compassion for those under chastisement. Alas, who are we ourselves? Who am I and who are you? Whence do we come and is it quite certain that we did nothing before we were born? This earth is not without some resemblance to a gaol. Who knows but that man is a victim of divine justice? Look closely at life. It is so constituted that one senses punishment everywhere.

Is it not a thing divine to have a smile which, none know how, has the power to lighten the weight of that enormous chain which all the living in common drag behind them?