Forgiveness Quote by Victor Hugo
““Cosette, do you hear? he has come to that! he asks my forgiveness! And do you know what he has done for me, Cosette? He has saved my life. He has done more--he has given you to me. And after having saved me, and after having given you to me, Cosette, what has he done with himself? He has sacrificed himself. Behold the man. And he says to me the ingrate, to me the forgetful, to me the pitiless, to me the guilty one: Thanks! Cosette, my whole life passed at the feet of this man would be too little. That barricade, that sewer, that furnace, that cesspool,--all that he traversed for me, for thee, Cosette! He carried me away through all the deaths which he put aside before me, and accepted for himself. Every courage, every virtue, every heroism, every sanctity he possesses! Cosette, that man is an angel!””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, 1862
A character praises another’s self‑sacrifice, likening him to an angel, expressing profound gratitude.
In simple terms: He thanks the man for his sacrifices and calls him an angel.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and honor selfless acts.
Themes
gratitude
self‑sacrifice
heroism
Mood
solemn
reverent
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- war
- personal loss
- heroic rescue
- emotional confession
Key Concepts
angelic metaphor
moral exaltation
Questions to Reflect On
- What does true sacrifice look like?
- How do we honor those who give everything?
A Different Perspective
May idealize sacrifice, ignoring personal cost.
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