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
And then, strange to say, the first symptom of true love in a young man is timidity; in a girl, it is boldness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True love elicits different emotional responses in men and women, showcasing timidity in men and boldness in women.
Victor Hugo's quote highlights the contrasting ways in which young men and women experience the onset of true love. While a young man may feel timid and vulnerable, unsure of how to express his feelings, a young woman might display boldness and confidence, actively pursuing the affection she desires. This reflects broader societal norms and psychological dynamics in romantic relationships, suggesting that love can bring out both shyness and courage depending on gender roles.
Themes
LoveTimidityBoldnessRomanceGender
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding toast, one could use this quote to reflect on the different ways couples express love.
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.
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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If thou speakest not I will fill my heart with thy silence and endure it. I will keep still and wait like the night with starry vigil and its head bent low with patience. The morning will surely come, the darkness will vanish, and thy voice pour down in golden streams breaking through the sky. Then thy words will take wing in songs from every one of my birds' nests, and thy melodies will break forth in flowers in all my forest groves.
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