Does it serve any purpose to ungild the crown of Louis XIV, to scrape the coat of arms of Henry IV? We scoff at M. de Vaublanc for erasing the N's from the bridge of Jena! What was it that he did? What are we doing? Bouvines belongs to us as well as Marengo. The fleurs-de-lys are ours as well as the N's. That is our patrimony. To what purpose shall we diminish it? We must not deny our country in the past any more than in the present. Why not accept the whole of history? Why not love the whole of France? It
In this excerpt, Hugo addresses the act of diminishing France's historical symbols, suggesting it serves no real purpose to erase or discredit the achievements and legacy of past leaders like Louis XIV and Henry IV. He points out the absurdity of erasing historical marks, asserting that landmarks like the bridge of Jena and events such as Bouvines and Marengo belong to the collective memory of the French people. These names and symbols form an integral part of their heritage and identity.
Hugo advocates for embracing all aspects of French history rather than cherry-picking what to acknowledge. He challenges the notion of denying parts of the past and encourages his readers to appreciate the entirety of their historical narrative. This call to love and accept the entirety of France's history is a plea for unity, recognizing that both the glorious and less favorable aspects contribute to the nation's identity.
