“Look down and show some mercy if you can. Look down, look down, upon your fellow man.”

“He sought...to transform the grief which looks down into the grave by showing it the grief which looks up to the stars.”

“People weighed down with troubles do not look back; they know only too well that misfortune stalks them.”

“Sire, you are looking at a plain man, and I am looking at a great man. Each of us may benefit.”

“Sire," said M. Myriel, "you are looking at a good man, and I at a great man. Each of us can profit by it.”

“Gavroche had fallen only to rise again; he sat up, a long stream of blood rolled down his face, he raised both arms in air, looked in the direction whence the shot came, and began to sing.”

“He believed that faith gives health. He sought to counsel and calm the despairing by pointing out the Man of Resignation, and to transform the grief that contemplates the grave by showing it the grief that looks up to the stars.”