Who can be sure that Jean Valjean had not been on the verge of losing heart and giving up the struggle? In loving he recovered his strength. But the truth is that he was no less vulnerable than Cosette. He protected her and she sustained him. Thanks to him she could go forward into life, and thanks to her he could continue virtous. He was the child's support and she his mainstay. Sublime, unfathomable marvel of the balance of destiny!

I will be Chateaubriand or nothing.

The ox suffers, the cart complains.

Melancholy is the happiness of being sad.

When grace combines with wrinkles, it is admirable. There is an indescribable light of dawn about intensely happy old age. . . . The young person is handsome, but the old, superb.

Every step which the intelligence of Europe has taken has been in spite of the clerical party.

Children at once accept joy and happiness with quick familiarity, being themselves naturally all happiness and joy.