Quote by Victor Hugo

Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. From that divine tear and from that human smile is derived the grace of present civilization.

Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. From that divine tear and from

Summary

This quote contrasts the emotional response of Jesus and Voltaire to illustrate the balance between sorrow and optimism in the development of modern civilization. "Jesus wept" refers to the empathy and compassion of Jesus, while "Voltaire smiled" symbolizes the power of reason and intellectual enlightenment. Together, these contrasting expressions of emotion form the foundation of grace in present society. It implies that a harmonious civilization arises from both acknowledging and understanding the suffering of humanity, as well as embracing the capacity for happiness, progress, and intellectual pursuits.

Topics

Grace Civilization

By Victor Hugo

Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.

Random Quotations

The faith that stands on authority is not faith.

The faith that stands on authority is not faith.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Faith

Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to

Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to do our best.

Attitude

The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?

The tempter or the tempted, who sins most?

William Shakespeare

Religion

Old age is just a record of one's whole life.

Old age is just a record of one's whole life.

Life Age

Work on good prose has three steps: a musical stage when it

Work on good prose has three steps: a musical stage when it is composed, an architectonic one when it is built, and a textile one when it is woven.

Walter Benjamin

Authors & Writing

I would go visit my mom on Sundays, and my brother was worki

I would go visit my mom on Sundays, and my brother was working on stuff. I'd go in there and sing a little melody, then we started working with words and the next thing you know it was just born organically without really trying.

Mom

People seldom become famous for what they say until after th

People seldom become famous for what they say until after they are famous for what they've done.

Cullen Hightower

Famous

Music is the only sensual pleasure without vice

Music is the only sensual pleasure without vice

Music Vice

Truly charismatic people, in my experience, don't come along

Truly charismatic people, in my experience, don't come along very often.

Francesca Annis

Experience

Governments that block the aspirations of their people, that

Governments that block the aspirations of their people, that steal or are corrupt, that oppress and torture or that deny freedom of expression and human rights should bear in mind that they will find it increasingly hard to escape the judgement of their own people, or where warranted, the reach of international law.

Freedom

Rule #1: Don't sweat the small stuff. Rule #2: It's all smal

Rule #1: Don't sweat the small stuff. Rule #2: It's all small stuff.

Michael Mantell

Worry

We would worry less about what others think of us if we real

We would worry less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.

Individuality