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Bishop Quote by Victor Hugo

“He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his form was but slightly bent, a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion. Gregory XVI., at the age of eighty, held himself erect and…” quote by Victor Hugo
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““He was not tall; he was rather plump; and, in order to combat this tendency, he was fond of taking long strolls on foot; his step was firm, and his form was but slightly bent, a detail from which we do not pretend to draw any conclusion. Gregory XVI., at the age of eighty, held himself erect and smiling, which did not prevent him from being a bad bishop.””

Victor Hugo

About This Quote

Source Novel: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, 1862

A description of a bishop’s physical appearance and demeanor, noting his habits and contradictions without drawing moral judgments.

In simple terms: Physical traits and habits are noted without moral inference.

Key Takeaway

Observe details without assuming character.

Themes

appearance habits contradiction

Mood

neutral observational

Type

descriptive literary

When to use this quote

  • historical biography
  • character study
  • social commentary

Key Concepts

human nature perception bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do physical traits influence our perception of character?
  • Can we separate habit from moral judgment?
A Different Perspective

Physical description alone may not reflect true character.

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