Les Miserables (Les Misérables)

His mother’s name was Jeanne Mathieu, his father’s Jean Valjean or Vlajean, probably a nickname, a contraction of Voilà Jean.

A moment later he was walking in the garden, surrendering mind and soul to a dreamy contemplation of these grand and mysterious works that God shows at night to eyes still open.

Isn’t there, dear lady, something truly evangelical in this tact, which refrains from sermonizing, moralizing, and making allusions? Isn’t it most sympathetic, when a man has a bruise, not to touch it at all? It seems to me that this was my brother’s guiding principle here.

Why would I have to know your name? Besides, before you told me, I knew it.” The man opened his eyes in surprise. “Really? You knew my name?” “Yes,” answered the bishop, “your name is my brother.”

“Yes,” answered the bishop, “you have left a place of suffering. But listen, there will be more joy in heaven over the tears of a repentant sinner than over the white robes of a hundred just men. If you are leaving that sad place with hatred and anger against men, you deserve compassion; if you leave it with goodwill, gentleness, and peace, you are

“You didn’t have to tell me who you are. This is not my house; it is Christ’s. It does not ask any guest his name but whether he has an affliction. You are suffering; you are hungry and thirsty; you are welcome.

Monsieur to a convict is a glass of water to a man dying of thirst at sea. Ignominy thirsts for respect.

The sky was very dark; it was not simply the darkness of night, but there were very low clouds, which seemed to lean on the hills and, ascending, covered the whole sky. A little of the twilight, however, lingered in the zenith; and as the moon was about to rise, the clouds formed in midheaven a vault of whitish light, from which a glow fell to eart

His profile was strong, energetic, and sad, a physiognomy strangely constructed: At first it seemed humble but soon turned severe. His eyes shone from under his eyebrows like a fire beneath a thicket.