“To be a saint is an exception; to be just is the rule.”Victor Hugo · Mizerabilii · 1862 · Partea a II-a, cartea a III-a, capitolul II
Justice is not a rare feat, but everyone's everyday duty.
Hugo separates two levels of morality. Sainthood demands total sacrifice, renunciation, love of one's enemies — a gift granted to few. Justice asks only that you don't cheat, exploit, or lie; that you pay your debts and tell the truth. This holds because ordinary duties are achievable, while exceptional ones cannot serve as a norm. A merchant who refuses to rig his scales does nothing heroic, yet does exactly what society has a right to expect.
Why it matters Useful today because we judge people either too harshly, demanding sainthood, or too leniently, accepting anything. The fair standard is everyday justice.