The struggle described by Victor Hugo between our ego to be sacrificed and die versus our duty to do the right thing. Val Jean reveals his criminal past to Marius to safeguard Cosette's future from scandal. Val Jean recognizes to do so requires him to give up being near her and forfeiting that future.

1. Alas! in this fight to the death between our egotism and our duty,
when we thus retreat step by step before our immutable ideal,
bewildered, furious, exasperated at having to yield, disputing the
ground, hoping for a possible flight, seeking an escape, what an
abrupt and sinister resistance does all this mean!
You ask me what has forced me to speak? a very odd thing; my
conscience.
To hold my peace was very easy, however. I passed the night in
trying to persuade myself to it; you questioned me, and what I
have just said to you is so extraordinary that you have the right to
do it; well, yes, I have passed the night in alleging reasons to
myself, and I gave myself very good reasons, I have done what I
could, but there are two things I have not succeeded...
1) in breaking the thread that holds me fixed, riveted and
sealed here by the heart. Or
2) in silencing Someone who speaks softly to me when I am
alone to ignore
Jean Val Jean to Marius