She was sad with an obscure sadness of which she had not the secret herself. There was in her whole person the stupor of a life ended but never commenced.

She worked in order to live, and presently fell in love, also in order to live, for the heart, too, has its hunger.

Ah," cried Gavroche, "what does this mean? It rains again! ...If this continues, I withdraw my subscription.

Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man.... Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!

Toleration is the best religion.

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

Life is the flower for which love is the honey.