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Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo Quotes

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Famous Victor Hugo Quotes

“Everybody has noticed the way cats stop and loiter in a half-open door. Hasn't everyone said to a cat: For heavens sake why don't you come in? With opportunity half-open in front of them, there are men who have a similar tendency to remain undecided between two solutions, at the risk of being crushed by fate abruptly closing the opportunity. The overprudent, cats as they are, and because they are cats, sometimes run more danger than the bold”

MenWaySaidTwoSometimesRunningOpportunityHeavenHalfFateRiskDoorsFrontsDangerSolutionsCatSakeTendenciesClosingCrushedUndecided
Book:Les Misérables
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“Do you know what friendship is?' he asked. 'Yes,' replied the gypsy; 'it is to be brother and sister; two souls which touch without mingling, two fingers on one hand.' 'And love?' pursued Gringoire. 'Oh! love!' said she, and her voice trembled, and her eye beamed. 'That is to be two and to be but one. A man and a woman mingled into one angel. It is heaven.”

KnowsMenSaidTwoSoulHandsEyeHeavenVoiceBrotherAngelAnd LoveFingersDo You KnowHer EyesBrothers And SistersPursuedGypsyMinglingTwo Souls
Book:The Works of Victor Hugo
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“I have examined the death penalty under each of its two aspects: as a direct action, and as an indirect one. What does it come down to? Nothing but something horrible and useless, nothing but a way of shedding blood that is called a crime when an individual commits it, but is sadly called "justice" when society brings it about. Make no mistake, you lawmakers and judges, in the eyes of God as in those of conscience, what is a crime when individuals do it is no less an offense when society commits the deed.”

WayDoeTwoEyeActionIndividualJusticeMistakeBloodCrimeJudgingConscienceAspectDirectDeedsHorribleCommitUselessPenaltiesOffenseDeath PenaltyIndirectLawmakersDirect ActionShedding Blood
Author:Victor Hugo
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“The death agony of the barricade was about to begin.For, since the preceding evening, the two rows of houses in the Rue de la Chanvrerie had become two walls; ferocious walls, doors closed, windows closed, shutters closed. A house is an escarpment, a door is a refusal, a facade is a wall. This wall hears, sees and will not. It might open and save you. No. This wall is a judge. It gazes at you and condemns you. What dismal things are closed houses.”

TwoMightHouseDoorsJudgingWallWindowEveningAgonyRefusalFacadeShuttersRueBarricades
Author:Victor Hugo
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“They adored each other; but still the permanent and the immutable subsist. We may love and laugh, pout, clasp hands, smile, and exchange endearments, but that does not affect eternity. Two lovers hide in the dusk of evening, amid flowers and the twittering of birds, and enchant each other with their hearts shinning in their eyes; but the stars in their course still circle through infinite space.”

HeartMayDoeStillsTwoHandsEyeCoursesStarsSpaceLaughingFlowerLoversBirdEternityInfiniteCirclesEveningPermanentDuskEndearmentInfinite SpaceTwo Lovers
Book:Les Misérables
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