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
Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on the perceptions of age, suggesting that different stages of life hold their own unique qualities of youth and vitality.
Victor Hugo suggests that age should not be rigidly defined by numbers; rather, there is a fluidity to the concept of youth that is present even in older phases of life. At forty, one can still have the vibrancy and aspirations characteristic of youth, while at fifty, one can embrace the newfound wisdom that often accompanies aging, viewing it as an opportunity to rejuvenate and create a second act.
In practice
This quote can be shared during a birthday celebration to inspire the guest of honor.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Taste is the common sense of genius.
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!
Stop waiting for others to change. Recognize that every person has the right to be whatever they choose-even if you irritate yourself about it.
It’s time to stop being vague. If you wish to be an extraordinary person, if you wish to be wise, then you should explicitly identify the kind of person you aspire to become.
No man (sic) has learned to live until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. Length without breadth is like a self-contained tributary having no outward flow to the ocean. Stagnant, still and stale, it lacks both life and freshness. In order to live creatively and meaningfully, our self-concern must be wedded to other concerns.
The man who is a pessimist before 48 knows too much; if he is an optimist after it, he knows too little.
…but it is better to learn wisdom late than never to learn it at all.
Disability is an art - an ingenious way to live.
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