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
History has its truth, and so has legend. Legendary truth is of another nature than historical truth. Legendary truth is invention whose result is reality. Furthermore, history and legend have the same goal; to depict eternal man beneath momentary man.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the distinction between historical facts and legendary narratives, suggesting both serve to reveal deeper truths about humanity.
Victor Hugo's quote speaks to the complex relationship between history and legend, asserting that while history conveys factual truths, legends embody a form of truth that resonates on a deeper, often more subjective level. He posits that both forms of narrative aim to illustrate the essence of humanity, transcending the fleeting nature of individual experiences. In doing so, Hugo suggests that legendary truths, while invented, reflect a reality shaped by human imagination and culture, ultimately enriching our understanding of what it means to be human.
Themes
HistoryLegendTruthHumanityNatureReality
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on the importance of storytelling, one might invoke this quote to illustrate the significance of legends in shaping cultural identity.
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!
Victor HugoRead
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