Quotes for
Jean Valjean (Character)
de Misérables, Les (1998)

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Misérables, Les (1935)

Jean Valjean: How do you know I won't kill you in your sleep?
Bishop Bienvenu: How do you know I won't kill YOU in YOUR sleep?

Jean Valjean: [to an old woman] You want to know who I am? I'm a convict! Yeah! I served my sentence. Now my punishment begins, it seems. Look, in prison they gave me a bed of wood. Now I have one of stone.
[laughs]
Jean Valjean: That's what they do when they set you free!
[laughs]
Jean Valjean: Well, call the police, why don't you? Have me turned off this as well!

Jean Valjean: Is it true I don't have to go back to the galleys? You - you let me go free?
Bishop Bienvenu: Free? When is a man free? I wish someone would tell me.

Jean Valjean: You never temper justice with mercy?
Inspector Javert: No, we might as well understand each other, Monsieur Madeliene. I administer the law - good, bad, or indifferent - it's no business of mine, but the law to the letter!

Jean Valjean: And me! Me! Have you nothing for me?
Cosette: But you're my father. I mean I always think of you as my father. I know you're not really, but, don't you see, with Marius, it's different. It isn't just that lovely sense of companionship I have with you. It's - it's - well, it's the way every girl feels for the man who's going to marry her! You always knew I should have to leave you one day, didn't you?
Jean Valjean: No one forgets that!

Jean Valjean: [looking around the empty hallway] Javert? You're here! I know it! Where are you? Where are you?

Jean Valjean: All I ask is a few moments to say good-bye.
Inspector Javert: The law allows you nothing.

Jean Valjean: [holding the Bishop's candlesticks] Keep these always. Silver they say, but they're more than gold to me!

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Misérables, Les (1998)

Jean Valjean: I order you to forgive yourself.

Captain Beauvais: Is it true? Are you a convict?
[Valjean nods]
Captain Beauvais: Is the inspector in there? Did you kill him?
Jean Valjean: No.
Captain Beauvais: That's a pity.

Bishop: Now Don't Forget, Don't ever Forget, you've promised to become a new man.
Jean Valjean: Promise? Wha, Why are you doing this?
Bishop: Jean Valjean my brother you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I have bought your soul. I've ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now I give you back to God.

Marius: If we can't win today, then none of us have a future.
Jean Valjean: You have love. That's the only future God gives us.

Jean Valjean: [Valjaean is being taken away] This is right, my dear. I stole something, I did. I stole happiness with you. I don't mind paying.

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Les Misérables in Concert (1995) (TV)

[Valjean prays to God to save Marius in the battle to come]
Jean Valjean: Bring him peace, bring him joy... He is young, he is only a boy... You can take, you can give! Let him be, let him live. If I die, let me die! Let him live...

Fantine: Come with me, where chains will never bind you. All your grief at last, at last behind you. Lord in Heaven, look down on him in Mercy.
Jean Valjean: Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory.

Javert: Now bring me 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!

Jean Valjean: [speaking to Javert] You are wrong. And always have been wrong. I'm a man, no worse than any man. You are free, and there are no conditions. No bargains or petitions. There is nothing that I blame you for. You have done your duty, nothing more.

Fantine, Eponine: Take my hand and lead me to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting.
Fantine, Eponine, Jean Valjean: And remember, the truth that once was spoken: To love another person, is to see the face of God.

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Misérables, Les (1934)

Cosette: [as she and Valjean witness a convoy of convicts being taken to the penal colonies] But father... are they... still human?
Jean Valjean: Sometimes.

Jean Valjean: So it never ends? After the chains comes the passport.

Jean Valjean: God is just. It is man... who sometimes... is unjust.

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Miserables, Les (1978) (TV)

Fantine: You know nothing of me. I am a stranger to you.
Jean Valjean: It was only a stranger who held out a hand to me... once.

Jean Valjean: [Sister Simplice has told her first lie in order to save Valjean] God bless you, sister.
Sister Simplice: I lied!
Jean Valjean: Then may this falsehood be placed to your credit in paradise.

Gillenormand: I've been a fool.
Jean Valjean: Oh sir, we're all fools for most of our lives. It's unavoidable.

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Miserables, Les (1952)

Etienne Javert: I pride myself on being a good officer.
Jean Valjean: That's very good. Only I'm afraid you'll get little practice here, Inspector Javert. We're a quiet town.
Etienne Javert: I have heard this, yet there is crime everywhere, monsieur.
Jean Valjean: And filth also if one looks hard enough.

Jean Valjean: But this is common humanity! Are you a machine?
Etienne Javert: I am an officer of the law doing my duty. I have no choice in the matter. It makes no difference what I think or feel or want. It has nothing to do with me - nothing! Can't you see that?

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