How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Line)
Quote #7
Marius clung to the religious habits of his childhood. (3.3.5.1)
Old habits die hard. Marius has gone to church his entire life, and he figures that this is a good enough reason to keep going as he gets older. For Hugo, that's enough. Eventually, he suggests, that habit is going to turn into real faith. (That's why your mom keeps bugging you about going to church while you're in college.)
Quote #8
As we can see, like all new converts to a religion, in the intoxication of his conversion he went too far. (3.3.6.17)
Interesting. Given that Bishop Myriel and Valjean were both new converts at one point, could Hugo be saying that they went too far at one point? We're not sure Hugo really believes you can go too far with religion—but with revolution, definitely.
Quote #9
"I have [a priest]," Jean Valjean replied; and he pointed upwards as though there were some other being present whom he alone could see. (5.9.5.61)
When asked whether he wants a priest in his dying moments, Jean Valjean says he already has one and points to the ceiling. God? Maybe. But he might also be referring to the spirit of Bishop Myriel, who has always been the most important religious figure in Valjean's life.