The statement from Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" suggests that history tends to repeat itself in tedious cycles, implying that the events and actions of one century tend to mimic those of another. This perspective reflects a sense of disillusionment with humanity's tendency to repeat its mistakes and learn little from the past, highlighting the notion of inevitability in historical patterns.

By describing history as a continual rehashing or plagiarism of prior times, Hugo emphasizes the stagnation in societal progress. It serves as a reminder of the importance of learning from earlier experiences to break the cycle and create a more innovative future instead of reliving the same errors over and over.