He who despairs is wrong. Progress infallibly awakens, and, in short, we might say that it advances even in sleep, for it has grown.

The man who does not know other languages, unless he is a man of genius, necessarily has deficiencies in his ideas.

People overwhelmed with trouble do not look behind; they know only too well that misfortune follows them.

In a little town, there are many mouths which talk, and very few heads which think.

Death does not concern me. He who takes his first step uses perhaps his last shoes.

If he had had all Peru in his pocket, he would certainly have given it to this dancer; but Gringoire had not Peru in his pocket; and besides, America was not yet discovered.

You need not tell me who you are. This is not my house; it is the house of Christ. It does not ask any comer whether he has a name but whether he has an affliction.