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
Nothing is more imminent than the impossible . . . what we must always foresee is the unforeseen.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the uncertainty of the future and the inevitability of the unexpected.
Victor Hugo's quote emphasizes the idea that the most significant obstacles and challenges often appear to be impossible, yet their arrival is more certain than we might believe. It serves as a reminder that, while we may focus on planning and preparing for the expected, we must also be aware of the unpredictable nature of life that can drastically change our paths and realities.
Themes
UncertaintyFuturePlanningPreparationImpossibilityChallenges
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be referenced in a motivational speech about embracing change.
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.
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
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We have to have powder for our wigs; that is why so many poor people have no bread.
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My dreams are a stupid refuge, like an umbrella against a thunderbolt.
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Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?' To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time.' The dog did nothing in the night-time.' That was the curious incident,' remarked Sherlock Holmes.
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