“Table talk and lovers' talk equally elude the grasp; lovers' talk is clouds, table talk is smoke.”

— Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (1862), tr. Charles E. Wilbour, Vol. 1, Book III, Ch. 6

About Victor Hugo

1802 – 1885

French poet and novelist, author of "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame".

“Deeds of daring dazzle history and form one of man's guiding lights.”

“When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age.”

“One resists the invasion of armies; one does not resist the invasion of ideas.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”