On February 26, 1802, Victor Hugo was born in Besancon, France.
Though regarded by the French as one of the country's greatest
poets, Hugo is mainly known throughout the world for novels like
"Les Miserables" (1862). He developed a novel approach to writing.
In the morning, he gave all his clothes to his valet, who was
instructed to return them only after Hugo had finished writing for
the day. "Les Miserables" contains many quotable quotes, including
these examples of oxymoronica:

"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad."

"The malicious have a dark happiness."

"Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause."

It also contains this memorable chiastic observation:

"When we are at the end of life,
to die means to go away;
when we are at the beginning,
to go away means to die."

As baby-boomers started reaching middle age, one of Hugo's aphorisms began to
enjoy renewed popularity:

"Forty is the old age of youth;
fifty is the youth of old age."