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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
AgeYouthWisdomLifePerception
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a birthday celebration to inspire the guest of honor.
More from Victor Hugo
All quotes βWhen 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.
Victor HugoRead
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 Cosetteβs 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.
Victor HugoRead
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.
Victor HugoRead
Taste is the common sense of genius.
Victor HugoRead
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!
Victor HugoRead
Similar quotes
The person who finds peace inside and lives it, is the one who teaches what true peace is.
Byron KatieRead
Ask no guarantees, ask for no security, there never was such an animal. And if there was it would be related to the great sloth which hangs upside down in a tree all day every day, sleeping its life away.
Ray BradburyRead
Your words and thoughts have physical power.
Will SmithRead
To overcome the intelligent by folly is contrary to the natural order of things; to overcome the foolish by intelligence is in accord with the natural order. To overcome the intelligent by intelligence, however, is a matter of opportunity.
Zhuge LiangRead
In the midst of a world of light and love, of song and feast and dance, [Lucifer] could find nothing to think of more interesting than his own prestige.
C. S. LewisRead
Scarcely any degree of judgment is sufficient to restrain the imagination from magnifying that on which it is long detained
Samuel JohnsonRead