Quotes from Victor Hugo

Nous ne sommes pas de ceux qui flattent la guerre; quand l'occasion s'en présente, nous lui disons ses vérités. La guerre a d'affreuses beautés que nous n'avons point cachées; elle a aussi, convenons-en, quelques laideurs. Une des plus surprenantes, c'est le prompt dépouillement des morts après la victoire. L'aube qui suit une bataille se lève toujours sur des cadavres nus.

Equality does not mean that all plants must grow to the same height - a society of tall grass and dwarf trees, a jostle of conflicting jealousies. It means, in civic terms, an equal outlet for all talents; in political terms, that all votes will carry the same weight; and in religious terms that all beliefs will enjoy equal rights.

Les révolutions sont de magnifiques improvisatrices. Un peu échevelées quelquefois.

three great problems of the century—the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light—are unsolved;

ViaÈ›a este pierderea neîntrerupt? a tot ce iubim.

A person may not want any more of his cake; but that is no reason for giving it away.

For there are things that make the dead open their eyes in their graves.

En France, que de gens à longues oreilles : ânes en littérature, lièvres en politique !

Disminuir el número de los tenebrosos, aumentar el de los luminosos; tal es el grande objeto. Por esto gritamos: ¡Enseñanza! ¡Ciencia! Aprender a leer es encender el fuego; toda sílaba deletreada brilla. Pero el que dice luz, no dice necesariamente goces. También se padece en la luz, porque el exceso quema. La llama es enemiga de las alas. Arder sin cesar de volar es el prodigio del genio.

Sans la moindre métaphore et dans toute l'acception du mot, vivre, c'est brûler.

Ignominy thirsts for consideration.

Ceux qui vivent, ce sont ceux qui luttent ; ce sont Ceux dont un dessein ferme emplit l'âme et le front. Ceux qui d'un haut destin gravissent l'âpre cime. Ceux qui marchent pensifs, épris d'un but sublime.

Be born with a silver spoon in your mouth! everything lies in that. Be lucky, and you will have all the rest; be happy, and people will think you great.

the goodness of the mother is written on the gaiety of the child.

Those who have succeeded in procuring this admirable materialism have the joy of feeling themselves irresponsible, and of thinking that they can devour everything without uneasiness, — places, sinecures, dignities, power, whether well or ill acquired, lucrative recantations, useful treacheries, savory capitulations of conscience, — and that they shall enter the tomb with their digestion accomplished.

You shouldn't abuse the revolutionaries, Mother Streetcorner. My pistol is on your side. It's to help you find more things worth eating in your basket.

No tratar con la gente permite atribuirle todas las perfecciones

We blame the church when she is saturated with intrigues, we despise the spiritual which is harsh toward the temporal; but we everywhere honor the thoughtful man.

The gravedigger's work is charming when done by a child.

Il visitait les pauvres tant qu'il avait de l'argent; quand il n'en avait plus, il visitait les riches.

after philosophy, action is required;

Le plus excellent symbole du peuple, c'est le pavé. On marche dessus jusqu'à ce qu'il vous tombe sur la tête.

The wretchedness of a child interests a mother, the wretchedness of a young man interests a young girl, the wretchedness of an old man interests no one.

Monastic communities are to the great social community what the mistletoe is to the oak, what the wart is to the human body.