Babylon violated diminishes Alexander... Les Miserables by Victor Hugo







"Babylon violated diminishes Alexander; Rome enslaved diminishes Caesar; massacred Jerusalem diminishes Titus' Tyranny follows the tyrant. Woe to the man who leaves a shadow that leaves a shadow that bears his form."

Victor Hugo - Les Miserables
French dramatist, novelist and poet (1802-1885)

Les Miserables was a book that I read in my teenage years. The first time I heard of the book was when we did ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ in school, a story that talks about forgiveness and love. Jean Val Jean turned into a character who evolved as the novel reached its culmination, a man who suffered much in his youth, and allowed his experiences to turn him into a worthy citizen.

The above quote is all-encompassing. It talks about the evil that men do that lives after them, scorning tyrants who leave devastation in their wake.

A vivid memory is of sitting and watching the musical version in London, and the performance has been imprinted on my mind for all times!




Comments

  1. Tyrants who leave devastation in their wake are unfortunately all too common in history. Let's hope we're spared them in our times.

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    Replies
    1. I agree with you, Damyanti! History abounds with tyrants who have always believed that the world is their oyster.

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  2. Have not read Les Miserables. Your post has piqued my interest and would like to read it. Thanks for sharing, Deepti!

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  3. Les Miserables is a human story that touched the heart, despite touching on the sadder aspects of life, Shilpa. It is a book worth reading, if only to understand human frailty.

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  4. Have read Bishop's candlestick but not the complete book of Les Miserables. That one quote is indeed intriguing to pick the book!

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