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
Man's greatest actions are performed in minor struggles. Life, misfortune, isolation, abandonment and poverty are battlefields which have their heroes - obscure heroes who are at times greater than illustrious heroes.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that significant achievements often arise from everyday struggles rather than grand events.
Victor Hugo's quote reflects the idea that the most profound actions and achievements are often not recognized in the grand narrative of history. Instead, they emerge from the small yet fierce battles individuals face in their daily lives, such as misfortune, isolation, and poverty. These 'obscure heroes' demonstrate strength and resilience, showing that greatness can come from humble origins and that the struggles often overlooked can shape true heroism.
Themes
StrugglesHeroismLifeResilienceAdversity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about resilience in the face of challenges.
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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