A moral lift is …

A moral lift is necessary. The life of nations, like the life of individuals, has its moments of depression; these moments pass, certainly, but no trace of them ought to remain. Man at this day, tends to fall into the stomach: man must be replaced in the heart, man must be replaced in the brain. The brain, – this is the bold sovereign that must be restored !

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo 

He who is not free is not a …

He who is not free is not a man; he who is not free has no sight, no knowledge, no discernment, no growth, no comprehension, no will, no faith, no love; he has no wife and children, he has only a female with young: he lives not. Freedom is the apple of the eye; freedom is the visual organ of progress. 

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo 

God creates by …

God creates by intuition; man creates by inspiration, strengthened by observation. This second creation, which is nothing else but divine action carried out by man, is what is called “genius”.

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo

The theatre is a crucible of …

The theatre is a crucible of civilization. It is a place of human communion. All its phases need to be studied. It is in the theatre that the public soul is formed. 

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo 

Science makes discoveries, Art composes …

Science makes discoveries; Art composes works. Science is an acquirement of man; Science is a ladder: one savant mounts above his fellow. Poetry is a soaring flight.

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo

In Science, all tends to stir, to change, to form fresh …

In Science, all tends to stir, to change, to form fresh surfaces. All denies, destroys, creates, replaces all. What was ground yesterday is put into the hopper again today. The colossal machine, Science, never rests. It is never satisfied; it is insatiable for improvement, of which the absolute knows nothing. Vaccination is called in question, the lightning-rod is called in question. Jenner may have erred, Franklin may have been mistaken; let us search again. This agitation is noble. Science is restless around man; she has her own reasons. Science plays in progress the part of utility. Let us reverence this superb handmaiden.

William Shakespeare by Victor Hugo