I wanted to make sure I was out of the woods so I didn't miss anything, but here are some quotes and/or ideas about Monseigneur Myriel, the Bishop in Les Mis.
Ok buckle up ya'll, we're starting out with this:
"...the people of the region...elected to call him by the name which for them had the most meaning...In any event, it pleased him. Bienvenu - or 'welcome'. 'It counteracts the Monseigneur,' he said."
- I looked it up and it said that prior to the overthrow in the monarchy in 1792, Monseigneur equated to "His Royal Highness"
"He treated no virtue as though it were beyond ordinary reach, nor did he use far-fetched reasoning and examples."
"He judged nothing in haste, or without taking account of the circumstances."
"The wises of comforters, he did not eek to banish sorrow in forgetfulness but to ennoble and dignify it with hope."
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So now I'm going to give some context as to why the whole Jean-stealing-silver-from-the-Bishop was actually a big deal.
"Let it be said in passing that the hatred of luxury is not a sensible hatred. It implies a hatred of the arts. But in a churchman, outside his rites and ceremonies, luxury is a defect. It suggests an attitude of mind in which there is little true charity."
Myriel led a very interesting life before becoming a Bishop. He was wealthy, handsome, and he was devoted to worldly affairs in his endeavors. Believing that he should not only be humble in title, but in possessions, he sacrificed it all to serve his God.
However, there was one thing he did allow himself - the silver. The one item of wealth that showed any semblance of his former life.
Not only did he excuse Jean of any blame, lest he be arrested, but he gave Jean the rest of his silver; so long as he used the money to start a virtuous life. It was a second chance.
Madame Magloire, (lady's maid to Myriel's sister, Baptistine, and general housekeeper) was upset when she discovered what Jean did.
To this, the unperturbed Myriel said,
"In the first place, was it really ours?"
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All in all, this guy is not real. One of the things that always comes up when Brianne and I talk about Les Mis, is how human the characters are. As perfect as he may seem, Myriel had his faults here and there; not major flaws, but definitely areas where he could improve. Nonetheless, he's up there with Atticus Finch as far as literary heros go. There is so much about the character of Myriel that I wish to emulate.
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