Les Misérables Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Line)

Quote #4

Another inevitable consequence was that as he drew nearer to his father, to the colonel's memory and to the things for which he had fought for twenty-five years, so he moved further away from his grandfather. (3.3.6.20)

As Marius becomes more interested in his father, he moves farther away from his grandfather. But you can't really blame him, because it's his granddad who said, "This family ain't big enough for the two of us." We're paraphrasing here, but you get the point.

Quote #5

"Because I have taught my children religion, Monsieur. I have never wanted them to go on the stage. They have been strictly brought up, and no backsliding!" (3.8.9.22)

Thénardier puts on an act in order to scam money from Jean Valjean, and one of the most hilarious things he claims is that he's tried to educate his children in religion, despite their lack of money. Since Thénardier is the most immoral man in this book by far, it's a miracle that Éponine and Gavroche managed to retain some tiny spark of humanity.

Quote #6

But then he heard his own spirit, become again terrible, roar sullenly in the darkness. Try to rob a lion of its cub! (4.15.1.21)

If you were a suspicious reader, you might say that Jean Valjean has an unhealthy relationship to Cosette, like feeling jealous at the thought that Cosette might be romantically interested in a young man (specifically Marius). Oh, sure, the book says he's jealous because he doesn't want to lose a daughter. But if you ask us, this puts a whole new spin on the phrase "family romance."