There are people who observe the rules of honor as one observes the stars, from a great distance.

[Il y a des gens qui observent les règles de l’honneur comme on observe les étoiles, de très loin.]

Victor Hugo (1802-1885) French writer

Les Misérables, Part 5 “Jean Valjean,” Book 1 “The War Between Four Walls,” ch. 21 (5.1.21) (1862) [tr. Hapgood (1887)]
    (Source)

Combeferre, on those leaders who had promised on their honor to support the barricades but were nowhere to be seen when the government troops attacked.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

There are people who observe the rules of honour as we observe the stars, from afar off.
[tr. Wilbour (1862)]

They are people who observe the rules of honor as they do the stars, a long distance off.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

There are people who observe the rules of honour as we do the stars, from a very long way off.
[tr. Denny (1976)]

There are people who observe the rules of honour as we observe the stars, from far off.
[tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]