It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky... a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.
Victor HugoRead
There is a determined though unseen bravery that defends itself foot by foot in the darkness against the fatal invasions of necessity and dishonesty. Noble and mysterious triumphs that no eye sees, and no fame rewards, and no flourish of triumph salutes. Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battlefields that have their heroes; obscure heroes, sometimes greater than the illustrious heroes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the quiet bravery of individuals who face life's struggles without recognition or reward.
Victor Hugo emphasizes the idea that true bravery often occurs in the shadows, where individuals confront life's hardships such as misfortune, isolation, and poverty. These quiet heroes engage in a daily battle against adversity, and their triumphs, though overlooked by society, are as significant as those of celebrated figures. The quote reminds us that many acts of courage go unseen and unappreciated, shedding light on the nobility of the human spirit in facing life's challenges.
Themes
BraveryAdversityHeroesCourageStruggle
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of recognizing everyday heroes who struggle silently.
More from Victor Hugo
All quotes →When two mouths, made sacred by love, draw near to each other to create, it is impossible, that above that ineffable kiss there should not be a thrill in the immense mystery of the stars.
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At that moment of love, a moment when passion is absolutely silent under omnipotence of ecstasy, Marius, pure seraphic Marius, would have been more capable of visiting a woman of the streets than of raising Cosette’s dress above the ankle. Once on a moonlit night, Cosette stopped to pick up something from the ground, her dress loosened and revealed the swelling of her breasts. Marius averted his eyes.
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Thought is the work of the intellect, reverie is its self-indulgence. To substitute day-dreaming for thought is to confuse a poison with a source of nourishment.
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Taste is the common sense of genius.
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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!
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