Born on February 26, 1802, Victor Hugo is a celebrated French
author, best known for his novels Notre-Dame
de Paris and Les Misérables. A
leading figure of the Romantic Movement, Hugo was also a poet and dramatist.
Although he obtained a law degree, Hugo was much more interested in
writing. Encouraged by his mother to follow his passion, young Victor founded a
review, the Conservateur Littéraire, in
which he published his work and the work of his friends.
Hugo was only 20 years old
when his first volume of poetry Odes et
Poésies Diverses, established his reputation as a poet and earned him a
royal pension.
After the Revolution of 1848, when Napoleon III came into power, Hugo was banished from his country as he did not share the same political views. He remained in exile for nearly 19 years -– this was the most productive period of his life, in which he wrote some of his best work (including Les Misérables).
Hugo’s writings showcase emotion, love, beauty, and his deep humanitarian beliefs. He was among the most important cultural figures of his time and continues to be one in the modern world.
Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.
To put everything in balance is good, to put everything in harmony is better.
The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather loved in spite of ourselves
Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.
Life is the flower for which love is the honey.
Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
There is something more terrible than a hell of suffering – a hell of boredom.
People do not lack strength; they lack will.
The future has several names. For the weak, it is impossible; for the fainthearted, it is unknown; but for the valiant, it is ideal.
Where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
There are thoughts which are prayers. There are moments when, whatever the posture of the body, the soul is on its knees.
The human soul has still greater need of the ideal than of the real. It is by the real that we exist, it is by the ideal that we love.
Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings.
You who suffer because you love, love still more! To die of love, is to live by it.
Not being heard is no reason for silence.
Laughter is sunshine, it chases winter from the human face.
Teach the ignorant as much as you can; society is culpable in not providing a free education for all and it must answer for the night which it produces. If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed.
It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live.
When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age.
A mother's arms are made of tenderness and children sleep soundly in them.
Our mind is enriched by what we receive, our heart by what we give.
An intelligent hell would be better than a stupid paradise.
Those who do not weep, do not see.
To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.