Les Misérables Quotes

Jean Valjean How have you come to grief in a place such as this?

Fantine M'sieur, don't mock me now, I pray. It's hard enough I've lost my pride. You let your foreman send me away - yes, you were there, and turned aside. I never did no wrong.

Jean Valjean Is it true, what I have done? To an innocent soul? Had I only known then...

Fantine My daughter's close to dying. If there's a God above... He'd let me die instead...

Jean Valjean In His name my task has just begun, I will see it done!

Madame Thénardier Wait a bit! Know that face! Ain't the world a remarkable place!

Thénardier Men like me don't forget. You're the bastard that borrowed Colette!

Madame Thenardier Cosette!

Thenardier Whatever.

Jean Valjean What is this? Are you mad? No, Monsieur, you don't know what you say!

Thénardier You know me! I know you!

Madame Thénardier And you'll pay what I'm due.

Thénardier And you’d better dig deep!

Madame Thénardier ‘Cause she doesn’t come cheap!

Thénardier Babet, Brujon!

Éponine It's the police! Disappear! Run for it! It's Javert!

Jean Valjean Cosette!

Cosette Papa...

Marius Éponine, find her for me!

Éponine What will you give me?

Marius Anything!

Éponine Got you all excited now, but God knows what you see in her! Aren't you all delighted now?

Éponine No, I don't want your money, sir.

Thénardier Jean Valjean - the old con. You pay up and I'll say where he's gone.

Marius Not so loud! Here's for you. God forgive us the things that we do.

Madame Thénardier How's about some extra on a day so glad. Our little orphan girl, she hasn't done so bad. Raised in a convent, cash to spare - we want our share.

Thénardier Quite the little nun, ain't she!

Marius Where is he?

Thénardier The convent.

Marius Pontmercy Do I care if I should die now she goes across the sea? Life without Cosette means nothing at all... Please don't weep, Cosette, should Marius fall. Will you weep, Cosette, for me?

Javert Monsieur le Mayor, I have a crime to declare. I have disgraced the uniform that I wear. I've done you wrong- let no forgiveness be shown. I've been as hard on every rogue I have known. I mistook you for a convict; I have made a false report. Now I learned they caught the culprit, he's about to face the court. Of course, he now denies it; you'd expect that of a con. But he could not run forever- no, not even Jean Valjean.

Jean Valjean You say he denies it all and gives no understanding or repentance? You say this man is going to trial and he's sure to be returned to serve his sentence?

Javert He will pay, and so must I. Press charges against me, sir.

Jean Valjean You have only done your duty; it's a minor sin at most. All of us have made misjudgements- you'll return, sir, to your post.

Fantine There was a time when men were kind. When their voices were soft, and their words inviting. There was a time when love was blind. And the world was a song, and the song was exciting. There was a time...Then it all went wrong. I dreamed a dream in times gone by, when hope was high and life worth living. I dreamed, that love would never die, I dreamed that God would be forgiving. Then I was young and unafraid, and dreams were made and used and wasted. There was no ransom to be paid, no song unsung, no wine untasted. But the tigers come at night with their voices soft as thunder. As they tear your hope apart as they turn your dream to shame. He slept a summer by my side, he filled my days with endless wonder. He took my childhood in his stride, but he was gone when autumn came. And still I dream he'll come to me that we will live the years together. But there are dreams that cannot be, and there are storms we cannot weather. I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living, so different now from what it seemed. Now life has killed the dream...I dreamed.

Marius Éponine, you're the friend that has brought me here. Thanks to you, I am with one with the Gods and heaven is near! And I soar through a world that is new, that is free.

Éponine Every word that he says is a dagger in me. In my life, there has been no one like him anywhere. Anywhere where he is. If he asks, I'll be his.

Thénardier You wait, my girl! You'll rue this night! I'll make you scream! You'll scream all right!

Javert Now, Prisoner 24601, your time is up and your parole's begun. You know what that means?

Jean Valjean Yes, it means I'm free.

Javert No. Follow to the letter your itinerary, this ] you'll show until you die. It warns you're a dangerous man.

Jean Valjean I stole a loaf of bread. My sister's child was close to death, and we were starving...

Javert You will starve again unless you learn the meaning of the law!

Jean Valjean I know the meaning of those nineteen years; a slave of the law.

Javert Five years for what you did. The rest because you tried to run. Yes, 24601...

Jean Valjean My name is Jean Valjean!

Javert And I'm Javert! Do not forget my name. Do not forget me, 24601.

Jean Valjean You know nothing to Javert. I was born inside a jail. I was.

Police Officer Sir, we have your silver. Caught him red-handed. Scum had the nerve to say you gave it to im.

Bishop Monsieur, release him. This man has spoken true. I commend you for your duty, now God's blessing go with you. But remember this, my brother. See in this some higher plan. You must use this precious silver to become an honest man. By the witness of the martyrs, by the passion and the blood, God has brought you out of darkness. I have saved your soul for God.

Marius Pontmercy Oh, my friends! My friends, don't ask me what your sacrifice was for! Empty chairs at empty tables, where my friends shall sing no more.

Javert Valjean, at last. We see each other plain. "Monsieur le Mayor". You'll wear a different chain.

Jean Valjean Before you say another word, Javert, before you chain me up like a slave again, listen to me! There is something I must do. This woman leaves behind a suffering child. There is none but me who can intercede. In mercy's name, three days are all I need. Then I'll return, I pledge my word. Then I'll return.

Javert You must think me mad! I've hunted you across the years. Men like you can never change. A man such as you!

Madam Thénardier I used to dream that I would meet a prince. But God Almighty...have you seen what's happened since?

Gavroche Good evening, dear inspector. Lovely evening, my dear. I know this man, my friends, his name is Inspector Javert. So don't believe a word he says cause none of it's true. This only goes to show what little people can do!