Memorable quotes for
Les Misérables (1998) More at IMDbPro »

Carnot: I'm a man who... what's the word for it? I'm one of those people who doesn't eat every day. I'm... I'm hungry, that's the word.
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Jean Valjean: I order you to forgive yourself.
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Javert: Reform is a discarded fantasy.
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Javert: What did you say? Speak up, people don't mumble when they speak to me.
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Javert: It's a pity the law doesn't allow me to be merciful.
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Captain Beauvais: [pointing a pistol at Valjean with a trembling hand] Are you a convict? Is that true?
Jean Valjean: Yes.
Captain Beauvais: Where's the inspector in there?
Jean Valjean: Inside
Captain Beauvais: Did you kill him?
[Valjean shakes his head]
Captain Beauvais: [lowers his pistol] That's a pity.
Captain Beauvais: [hands over his pistol to Valjean] You'd better hit me hard enough... to make a lump.
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Fantine: [to Valjean] We're a fine pair.
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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.
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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.
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Jean Valjean: [Valjean 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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Javert: I've tried to live my life without breaking a single rule...
[takes Valjean's shackles off, pushes him to the ground and puts them on himself]
Javert: You're free.
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Javert: [reading proof that Monsieur le Maire is Jean Valjean] I knew it... I knew it. I KNEW IT!
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Landlord: Am I a charity? You haven't paid me in four months.
Fantine: [shivering with cold] I paid you...
Landlord: I have bills too and I can't spread my legs. Besides, it's not good business to rent to a whore.
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Jean Valjean: When you're better, I'll find work for you.
Fantine: But you don't understand, I'm a whore... and Cosette has no father.
Jean Valjean: She has the Lord. He is her father. And you're his creation. In his eyes, you have never been anyting but an innocent and... beautiful woman.
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Javert: Monsieur, a serious... a grave violation of the public trust has been committed. An inferior has shown a complete lack of respect for the law. He must be exposed and punished.
Jean Valjean: Who is the offender?
Javert: I am. I slandered you Monsieur le maire, I'm here to ask that you demand my dismissal.
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Jean Valjean: Brevet, Lombard, Bertin. Look at me. You recognize me? I recognize you, Brevet. You were an informer in Toulon, I see you're still a snitch.
Brevet: Valjean?
Jean Valjean: Hello, Brevet.
[turns to Lombard]
Jean Valjean: And you, Lombard, don't look at my fancy clothes, don't look at my scraped chin. Look at my eyes. You called yourself Godless, right? You've got a scar on your left shoulder. I gave it to you the night you tried to kill me, remember? When I pinned you over the stove.
Lombard: It is you...
Jean Valjean: Show the court your scar.
[Lombard bares his shoulder revealing the scar]
Jean Valjean: Bertin, the hollow of your left arm, there's a date tatooed, 1789, the year of the revolution. Show them!
[Bertin rolls up his sleave to reveal the tattoo]
Jean Valjean: I know these men, Monsieur le President, and they know me. I am the man you want. I am Jean Valjean.
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Judge: Monsieur le maire, I know you to be a kind man, but this...
Jean Valjean: A kind? A kind man? When I was in prison I was as ignorant and mean and devious as these men here, but not kind. And I wish I could keep my mouth shut and let this poor wretch suffer for me, but... continue with your investigation, monsieur, you will find further proof that I am Valjean.
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Javert: [about Valjean] He lies so well, doesn't he? He's had a lot of practice. A lifetime of lies.
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Javert: [Valjean slams Javert against the wall, starts to put his own handcuffs on him] Where will you go, Valjean? You don't have papers.
Javert: [Valjean slams Javert's head against the wall once more] I'll find you...
[another hit against the wall, Javert loses conciousness]
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Thénardier: I adore that child.
Jean Valjean: You adore her?
Thénardier: Yes, it's true. I'm not rich. I've had to pay over 400 Francs for her medicine. But I'm a stupid man, I have no sense... just a heart.
[glances at Valjean's wallet]
Thénardier: A big heart.
Jean Valjean: You paid over 400 Francs?
Thénardier: 500...
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Javert: This week was the same as last, every night?
Informer: Inspector, they're in love. It's perfectly nauseating. She sneaks out the door, and they're together till dawn. They even stay out there when it rains.
[sneezes]
Informer: I haven't caught the gun supply, Inspector, I've caught pneumonia.
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Enjolras: You hurry back. After tomorrow, you can make love to her as a free man.
Marius: Maybe.
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Enjolras: [referring to Javert] You kill him in the alley. We don't want his blood in here with ours.
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Javert: Jean Valjean. I *knew* it!
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Old Woman: [first lines - dark street] You can't sleep here.
Jean Valjean: Get away from me.
Old Woman: Why don't you go to an inn?
Jean Valjean: Why do you think?
Old Woman: Can't you knock on doors and ask people?
Jean Valjean: I asked. I ask everywhere. Leave me alone?
Old Woman: You didn't ask there? Knock on that door.
[pointing to Bishop's residence]
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Mme. Gilot: [sharing their meal with homeless convict] What crime did you commit?
Jean Valjean: Maybe I killed someone... How do you know I'm not going to murder *you*?
Bishop: How do you know *I'm* not going to murder *you*?
Jean Valjean: What's that, a joke?
Bishop: I suppose we'll have to trust each other.
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Jean Valjean: You're dead, Javert.
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Cosette: I didn't breathe when you spoke. I was afraid I'd miss a word.
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Javert: Reform is a discredited fantasy. Modern science tells us that people are by nature, law breakers or law abiders. A wolf could wear sheep's clothing but he's still a wolf.
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