Victor Hugo. The man who laughs (№ 457569)

People are objecting to something! Just think! Yes, you can’t find anything more comical in Plautus himself! The philosopher who would advise this miserable mob to object to the oppression of the lords would be ridiculous. Yes, it’s the same as if a caterpillar got into an argument with an elephant’s heel. I once saw a hippopotamus step on a wormhole; he crushed everything; but he was not guilty of anything. This good-natured giant had no idea that there were moles in the world. My dear, moles that are being crushed are the human race. Crushing each other is the law of nature. Do you think that the mole does not oppress anyone? He is a giant in relation to the mite, which in turn is a giant in relation to the aphid.