“There is a sacred horror about everything grand. It is easy to admire mediocrity and hills; but whatever is too lofty, a genius as well as a mountain, an assembly as well as a masterpiece, seen too near, is appalling.”
- February 26, 1802 – May 22, 1885
- Born in France
- Author, poet, playwright
- Written novels and poems such as “Les Miserables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris,” he was a representative figure of French Romantic literature and had a worldwide influence.
Quote
“There is a sacred horror about everything grand. It is easy to admire mediocrity and hills; but whatever is too lofty, a genius as well as a mountain, an assembly as well as a masterpiece, seen too near, is appalling.”
Explanation
In this quote, Victor Hugo expresses the paradox that the grander or loftier something is, the more it can seem intimidating or overwhelming when experienced up close. Whether it’s a genius, a masterpiece, or a towering mountain, its immensity or greatness can invoke a sense of awe that borders on fear when observed too intimately. While these great things can be admired from a distance, their true scale or complexity may be daunting when encountered in person. Hugo likens this effect to a sacred horror, suggesting that there is something almost divine or untouchable about what is truly grand, which makes it feel alien or inaccessible when viewed up close.
Hugo’s words speak to the humbling nature of greatness, whether in nature or in human achievement. When something is too vast, too perfect, or too powerful, it often causes us to step back in both admiration and fear, realizing the limits of our understanding and capacity to fully grasp it. This idea reflects the Romantic fascination with the sublime, where the beauty or power of something can be both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
In modern terms, this quote speaks to the idea that greatness, whether in art, nature, or people, can often be intimidating when examined too closely. It suggests that perfection or genius is not always easy to comprehend or appreciate up close. While we might admire it from afar, we may struggle to fully understand or absorb it when faced with its true magnitude, which can make us feel small or even overwhelmed by its presence.
