Zeph

“At the end of another minute, the carriage-load of maskers had their hands full, the multitude set to yelling, which is the crowd's caress to masquerades; and the two maskers who had just spoken had to face the throng with their comrades, and did not find the entire repertory of projectiles of the fishmarkets too extensive to retort to the enormous verbal attacks of the populace. A frightful exchange of metaphors took place between the maskers and the crowd.”
― Victor Hugo, Complete Works of Victor Hugo

“Has it not happened to all of us, in certain supreme conjunctures, to stop our ears in order that we may not hear the reply, after we have asked a question? It is especially when one loves that one gives way to these exhibitions of cowardice.”
― Victor Hugo, Complete Works of Victor Hugo

“That hollowness and that loathing were not entirely unpleasant. Despair always begins as a snack that you nibble on when bored and then becomes a meal that you have thrice a day.”
― Shehan Karunatilaka, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

“Two men who have a secret in common, and who, by a sort of tacit agreement, exchange not a word on the subject, are less rare than is commonly supposed.”
― Victor Hugo, Complete Works of Victor Hugo