WIST Quotations

Hugo, Victor -- Les Misérables, Part 4 “Saint Denis,” Book 12 “Corinth,” ch. 4 (4.12.4) (1862) [tr. Wilbour (1862)]

Dave — Wed, 14 May 2025 15:59:53 +0000

Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.

[Les grands périls ont cela de beau qu’ils mettent en lumière la fraternité des inconnus.]

Victor Hugo (1802–1885) French writer, journalist, human rights activist, politician
Les Misérables, Part 4 “Saint Denis,” Book 12 “Corinth,” ch. 4 (4.12.4) (1862) [tr. Wilbour (1862)]
(Source)

On the varied Parisians working together at building the barricades.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Great dangers have this beauty about them, that they throw light on the fraternity of strangers.
[tr. Wraxall (1862)]

Great perils have this fine characteristic, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.
[tr. Hapgood (1887)]

It is the ennobling quality of danger that it brings to light the fraternity of strangers.
[tr. Denny (1976)]

Great perils share this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.
[tr. Wilbour/Fahnestock/MacAfee (1987)]

That is the beauty of great danger, it brings out the fraternity of strangers.
[tr. Donougher (2013)]

Joubert, Joseph -- Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 16 “Des Mœurs publiques et privées; du Caractère des Nations [On Morality and the Character of Nations],” ¶ 57 (1850 ed.) [tr. Lyttelton (1899), ch. 15, ¶ 26]

Dave — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 20:45:35 +0000

It seems as though nations love perils, and when they have none, they create them.

[Il semble que les peuples aiment les périls, et que lorsqu’ils en manquent, ils s’en créent.]

Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist, philosopher, essayist, poet
Pensées [Thoughts], ch. 16 “Des Mœurs publiques et privées; du Caractère des Nations [On Morality and the Character of Nations],” ¶ 57 (1850 ed.) [tr. Lyttelton (1899), ch. 15, ¶ 26]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Another translation:

It seems to me that nations love dangers, and when there are none to be found create them to fill the want.
[tr. Collins (1928), ch. 15]

Nachman of Breslov -- (Paraphrase)

Dave — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:39:45 +0000

All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be overwhelmed by fear.

כל העולם כולו גשר צר מאוד, והעיקר – לא לפחד כלל.

Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) Ukrainian Jewish Hasidic leader, rabbi, kabbalist [רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב; of Bratslav; of Bracław]
(Paraphrase)

The original of this passage, in Nachman's Likutey Moharan, Part 2, 48:2, is:

[וְדַע, שֶׁהָאָדָם צָרִיך לַעֲבר עַל גֶּשֶׁר צַר מְאֹד מְאֹד וְהַכְּלָל וְהָעִקָּר שֶׁלּא יִתְפַּחֵד כְּלָל]

which is variously translated:

And know, a person needs to make his passage on a very, very narrow bridge, and the rule and the essence is to not be afraid at all.
[Source]

Know that [when] a person needs to cross a very, very narrow bridge, the general principle and main point is not to make oneself at all terrified.
[Source]

Now know, a person needs to pass over on a very, very narrow bridge, and the rule and the essence is to not be afraid at all.
[Source]

This Nachman quote was paraphrased and set to music in the Hebrew tune, "Kol Ha'Olam Kulo [כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלוֹ]":

Kol ha'olam kulo
Gesher tzar me'od,
Veha'ikar lo le'fached klal.

Other translations of the song include:

"All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the essence is not to fear at all."
"All the world is a very narrow bridge, and the essence is, don't be afraid at all."
"The whole world is a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to be at all afraid."
"All the world is a very narrow bridge. / But the main thing to recall / Is to have no fear at all."

More information about the song:

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, ch. 6 “Lothlórien” [Haldir] (1954)

Dave — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:08:26 +0000

The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Lord of the Rings, Vol. 1: The Fellowship of the Ring, Book 2, ch. 6 “Lothlórien” [Haldir] (1954)
(Source)