Quotes from The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
17 notable lines from Victor Hugo · 1831
This will kill that. The book will kill the edifice.
Quotations follow the John Sturrock translation (Penguin Classics, 1978) — our recommended edition.
“Alas,” he said, “this will kill that.”
Archdeacon Claude Frollo, gesturing from a printed book to Notre-Dame, Book V · trans. Hapgood When they tried to detach the skeleton which he held in his embrace, he fell to dust.
Final lines, on Quasimodo's skeleton clasping Esmeralda's, Book XI · trans. Hapgood A few years ago, while visiting or, rather, rummaging about Notre-Dame, the author of this book found, in an obscure nook of one of the towers, the following word, engraved by hand upon the wall:— ἈΝÁΓΚΗ.
Preface · trans. Hapgood Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin.
Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Love is like a tree; it sprouts forth of itself, sends its roots out deeply through our whole being, and often continues to flourish greenly over a heart in ruins.
On Esmeralda's love, Book VII · trans. Hapgood It is upon this word that this book is founded.
Closing line of the Preface, on the word ἈΝÁΓΚΗ · trans. Hapgood The Nile rat kills the crocodile, the swordfish kills the whale, the book will kill the edifice.
Claude Frollo, Book V · trans. Hapgood “Oh! why am not I of stone, like you!”
Quasimodo to a carved figure on the wall, Book IX · trans. Hapgood A drop of water and a little pity,—that is more than I can repay with my life.
Quasimodo to Esmeralda, recalling her mercy at the pillory, Book IX · trans. Hapgood “Oh! all that I have ever loved!”
Quasimodo, beholding the dead Esmeralda and Frollo, Book XI · trans. Hapgood Notre-Dame had been to him successively, as he grew up and developed, the egg, the nest, the house, the country, the universe.
On Quasimodo and the cathedral, Book IV · trans. Hapgood “I love thee!” cried the priest.
Claude Frollo to Esmeralda, Book VIII · trans. Hapgood He watched her dance, and it was as if the universe had no other purpose than to allow him to see her.
Victor Hugo, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame On the face of this aged queen of our cathedrals, by the side of a wrinkle, one always finds a scar.
On the defacement of Notre-Dame, Book III · trans. Hapgood “That is to be two and to be but one. A man and a woman mingled into one angel. It is heaven.”
Esmeralda, on love, Book II · trans. Hapgood Great edifices, like great mountains, are the work of centuries.
On architecture, Book III · trans. Hapgood