Victor Hugo (1802 – 1885) ~ Quote of the Day

Victor-Marie Hugo (26 February 1802 – 22 May 1885), French poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France. Though a committed royalist when he was young, Hugo's views changed as the decades passed; he became a passionate supporter of republicanism, and his work touches upon most of the political and social issues and artistic trends of his time.

"Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war?
Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?"
~ Victor Hugo

Comments: 16

Larry M. Apr 24, 2012, 8:10am UTC

They are fought between brothers but remember how much brothers tend to compete with each other. The closeness only increases the intensity of feeling. (Silly, aren't we.)

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 11:36am UTC

Yeah, we're all silly. I'm not close with either of my brothers--being 3,000 miles away for the past 45 years might have something to do with that. One brother couldn't be bothered, and the other calls me occasionally, apparently either just to start an argument or to denounce the Democrats in Congress, whom he has somehow gotten the idea that I endorse (talk about silly!), but in all these years I have never once had a desire to pick up a gun and blow either one of them away!

Larry M. Apr 24, 2012, 1:20pm UTC

Gerald,

Perhaps "absence makes the heart grow fonder"? :-)

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 1:48pm UTC

If only that were true! The youngest of my siblings, the one that calls to make speeches, was my favorite when he was a kid--a real "happy-go-lucky" kind of free spirit, but now I dread each time I see his name on my caller ID, knowing that I'm going to have to listen to 3 hours of non-stop hate spewing, right up until I'm rude enough to think "conversation" means that I'm supposed to say something to acknowledge that I'm still listening, at which point he gets mad for being interrupted and hangs up on me, which, I am ashamed to say, is the moment I am longing for.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 1:52pm UTC

Sometimes I feel that California is all too close to West Virginia.

Larry M. Apr 24, 2012, 1:52pm UTC

How sad for you both.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 2:04pm UTC

I don't know--he's starting to sound disillusioned with driving those behemoth rock trucks for strip mines that are making such a mess of West Virginia, and is threatening to pull up roots and come visit me to see why I love California so much. Oh happy day!

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Ann Marcaida Apr 24, 2012, 1:48pm UTC

Now featured at Examining Our Religion.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 1:51pm UTC

Thank you once again, Ann.

Ann Marcaida Apr 24, 2012, 1:57pm UTC

I'm glad to have you in this group, Gerald.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 24, 2012, 2:05pm UTC

Happy to have joined--perhaps one day I might make a more substantial contribution.

Ann Marcaida Apr 24, 2012, 3:42pm UTC

This post reminds me of Dave Mathews' gorgeous song Road to Gettysburg.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 25, 2012, 12:16am UTC

I see what you mean. Awful lot of Americans died in that bloodbath. Intense video! Civil War, indeed!

Ann Marcaida Apr 25, 2012, 1:05pm UTC

I'm glad I wasn't alive back then.

Gerald_Waving my Freak-flag High Brewster Apr 25, 2012, 1:40pm UTC

So am I, but it would seem that people can be uncivil to one another regardless of the age.

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Victor Hugo (1802 – 1885) ~ Quote of the Day

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