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
God made only water, but man made wine.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that while nature provides the raw materials, it is human creativity that transforms those materials into something more complex and refined.
In this quote, Victor Hugo emphasizes the contrast between nature and human ingenuity. While water is a simple and essential element created by God, wine represents the art of transformation, showcasing human ability to take what is naturally available and craft it into something beautiful and enjoyable. This reflects a broader commentary on the human experience, highlighting our capacity for creativity and innovation.
Themes
WaterWineCreativityTransformationNatureHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech aimed at entrepreneurs about the power of creativity.
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.
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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 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.
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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!
Victor HugoRead
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