"Jesus wept; Voltaire smiled. From that divine tear and from that human smile is derived the grace of present civilization"

Victor Hugo's quote is a reflection on the power of emotion and the impact it can have on the world. The juxtaposition of Jesus' tear and Voltaire's smile is used to show the contrast in between magnificent and human feeling. Jesus' tear is seen as a sign of magnificent sadness, while Voltaire's smile is a symbol of human joy. Hugo recommends that it is through these 2 emotions that the grace of present civilization has actually been derived. He indicates that the mix of divine sadness and human happiness has actually been necessary in the development of our current society. Hugo's quote is a suggestion of the significance of emotion in the development of civilization, and how it can be utilized to produce favorable modification.