In Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," the quote highlights a profound commentary on the nature of life and societal systems. It suggests that while God provides essential resources like air to all individuals for free, societal structures, represented by the law, commodify these essentials, placing a price on what should inherently belong to everyone. This reflects the disparity between divine generosity and human greed.

The statement critiques the way laws and societies can exploit basic human needs, emphasizing the injustice that arises when necessities are treated as commodities. Hugo’s work often explores themes of morality and social justice, and this quote encapsulates the struggle between spiritual benevolence and the constraints imposed by legal and economic systems.