--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While they were thus embarrassed, a large…" description: "\"“While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was brought and deposited in the presbytery for the Bishop, by two unknown horsemen, who departed on t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg" --- # While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was… ![“While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was brought and deposited in the presbytery for the Bishop, by two unknown horsemen, who departed on the instant. The chest was opened; it contained a cope of cloth of gold, a mitre ornamented with diamonds, an archbishop's cross, a magnificent…” quote by Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg) > ““While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was brought and deposited in the presbytery for the Bishop, by two unknown horsemen, who departed on the instant. The chest was opened; it contained a cope of cloth of gold, a mitre ornamented with diamonds, an archbishop's cross, a magnificent crosier,—all the pontifical vestments which had been stolen a month previously from the treasury of Notre Dame d'Embrun. In the chest was a paper, on which these words were written, "From Cravatte to Monseigneur Bienvenu." "Did not I say that things would come right of themselves?" said the Bishop. Then he added, with a smile, "To him who contents himself with the surplice of a curate, God sends the cope of an archbishop." "Monseigneur," murmured the cure, throwing back his head with a smile. "God—-or the Devil." The Bishop looked steadily at the cure, and repeated with authority, "God!”” [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A bishop reflects on divine irony: a humble priest receives grand vestments, suggesting fate or divine will can elevate the modest. **In simple terms:** Divine irony can lift the humble unexpectedly. Key Takeaway Recognize that unexpected blessings may arise. Themes faith humility irony Mood reflective mystical Type narrative spiritual When to use this quote - religious ceremonies - personal reflection - storytelling - leadership decisions Key Concepts divine providence social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - What does this story say about destiny? - How do we respond to sudden elevation? A Different Perspective Interpretations may vary across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Notre dame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notre-dame/) ## Related quotes > [“Did not i say that things would come right of themselves? said the Bishop. Then he added, with a smile, To him who contents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/did-not-i-say-that-things-would-come-right-of-themselves-said-the/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“You are risking your life!" "Monsieur le maire," said the Bishop, "is that really all? 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"Why was I not made of stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/to-a-gargoyle-on-the-ramparts-of-notre-dame-as-esmeralda-rides-off/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [For dogs we kings should have lions, and for cats, tigers. The great benefits a crown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/for-dogs-we-kings-should-have-lions-and-for-cats-tigers-the-great/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More by Victor Hugo > [Houses are like the human beings that inhabit them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/houses-are-like-the-human-beings-that-inhabit-them/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. 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She did not know whether it was good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/loving-in-ignorance-she-loved-with-all-the-more-passion-she-did-not/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/laughter-is-the-sun-that-drives-winter-from-the-human-face/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Our joys have shadows. The perfect smile belongs to God alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/our-joys-have-shadows-the-perfect-smile-belongs-to-god-alone/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“When those we love are in question, our prudence invents every sort of madness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/when-those-we-love-are-in-question-our-prudence-invents-every-sort-of/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Love is a fault; so be it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-is-a-fault-so-be-it/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Explore all 2,181 Victor Hugo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) ## More Notre dame quotes > [There is no question that Notre Dame has the best, biggest and finest name in college football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-corso/there-is-no-question-that-notre-dame-has-the-best-biggest-and-finest/) [Lee Corso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-corso/) > [“Since I am writing a book about depression, I am often asked in social situations to describe my own experiences, and I usually end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-solomon/since-i-am-writing-a-book-about-depression-i-am-often-asked-in-social/) [Andrew Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-solomon/) > [I was a 52-year-old coach. 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The chest was opened; it contained a cope of cloth of gold, a mitre ornamented with diamonds, an archbishop's cross, a magnificent crosier,—all the pontifical vestments which had been stolen a month previously from the treasury of Notre Dame d'Embrun. In the chest was a paper, on which these words were written, \"From Cravatte to Monseigneur Bienvenu.\" \"Did not I say that things would come right of themselves?\" said the Bishop. Then he added, with a smile, \"To him who contents himself with the surplice of a curate, God sends the cope of an archbishop.\" \"Monseigneur,\" murmured the cure, throwing back his head with a smile. \"God—-or the Devil.\" The Bishop looked steadily at the cure, and repeated with authority, \"God!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Victor Hugo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large-chest-was-brought-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Notre dame" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large-chest-was-brought-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/82a/victor-hugo-32_notre-dame_while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large_505431.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“While they were thus embarrassed, a large chest was brought and deposited in the presbytery for the Bishop…” — Victor Hugo", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Victor Hugo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“While they were thus embarrassed, a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large-chest-was-brought-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/while-they-were-thus-embarrassed-a-large-chest-was-brought-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```