In Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," the power of a single moment is captured in the quote, "One kiss, and that was everything." This highlights how brief and seemingly simple instances can hold immense emotional significance. The kiss symbolizes deep connections and the transformative potential of love in a person's life. It illustrates how relationships, even those that appear fleeting, can define one's journey and affect their choices deeply.

The essence of this quote reflects the themes in "Les Miserables," where love, sacrifice, and redemption play pivotal roles. Such moments underscore the complexity of human emotions, suggesting that profound experiences often come in small packages. Hugo's narrative emphasizes how these intimate encounters can resonate throughout one's life, influencing fate and character development in unexpected ways.