Whoever does not weep does not see.
Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16
Qui ne pleure pas ne voit pas.
Whoever does not weep does not see.
Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16
What it means
Hugo says people who never grieve miss part of reality. Tears come from seeing clearly what is at stake. Let yourself feel it.
The source
"Whoever does not weep does not see." Victor Hugo said it in Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.
"Qui ne pleure pas ne voit pas."Original French, Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16. Text read at gutenberg.org.
Who said it
Victor Hugo (1802–1885). French poet and novelist who wrote Les Misérables (1862), much of it in exile on the island of Guernsey.
Questions
- What does "Whoever does not weep does not see." mean?
- Hugo says people who never grieve miss part of reality. Tears come from seeing clearly what is at stake. Let yourself feel it.
- Who said "Whoever does not weep does not see."?
- Victor Hugo (1802–1885). Source: Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16.
- What is the original French?
- Qui ne pleure pas ne voit pas. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "Whoever does not weep does not see." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"Whoever does not weep does not see." (Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 1, ch. 16, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/whoever-does-not-weep-does-not-see
Filed under Quotes about calm.
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More from Victor Hugo
- Grander than the sea is the sky. Grander than the sky, the soul.Les Misérables, Part 1 (Fantine), Book 7, ch. 3
- Poverty and loneliness are battlefields. Their unknown heroes are sometimes the greatest.Les Misérables, Part 3 (Marius), Book 5, ch. 1
- The supreme happiness of life is knowing you are loved.Les Misérables, Part 1 (Fantine), Book 5, ch. 4
- Dying is nothing. Not living is terrible.Les Misérables, Part 5 (Jean Valjean), Book 9, ch. 5
- Laughter is sunshine. It chases winter from the human face.Les Misérables, Part 2 (Cosette), Book 8, ch. 9
- Teach those who do not know as much as you can.Les Misérables, Part 1 (Fantine), Book 1, ch. 4