Nikos Kazantzakis Quotes - Page 4

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I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, a wretched little brazier, the sound of the sea. Nothing else.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Happiness, Wine, Simple

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.80, Simon and Schuster

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The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation. Most often this struggle is unconscious and short-lived. A weak soul does not have the endurance to resist the flesh for very long. It grows heavy, becomes flesh itself, and the contest ends. But among responsible men, men who keep their eyes riveted day and night upon the Supreme Duty, the conflict between flesh and spirit breaks out mercilessly and may last until death.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Struggle, Eye, Night

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “The Last Temptation of Christ”, p.2, Simon and Schuster

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When an almond tree became covered with blossoms in the heart of winter, all the trees around it began to jeer. 'What vanity,' they screamed, 'what insolence! Just think, it believes it can bring spring in this way!' The flowers of the almond tree blushed for shame. 'Forgive me, my sisters,' said the tree. 'I swear I did not want to blossom, but suddenly I felt a warm springtime breeze in my heart.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Spring, Believe, Flower

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Beauty always had a purpose: to be of service to life.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Purpose

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “Report to Greco”, p.234, Simon and Schuster

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All those who actually live the mysteries of life haven't the time to write, and all those who have the time don't live them! D'you see?

Nikos Kazantzakis

Writing, Mystery, Havens

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.217, Simon and Schuster

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It doesn't matter whether or not you have a head, you must wear the right sort of hat

Nikos Kazantzakis

Matter, Hats

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You do miracles if you concentrate your mind on one thing and one thing only.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Miracle, Mind, One Thing

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There is only one sin god will not forgive Boss, and that is to deny a woman who is in wanting ~ Zorba

Nikos Kazantzakis

Boss, Forgiving, Sin

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No wide road leads to God.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Wide

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God is action, complete with mistakes, fumblings, persistence, agony. God is not the power that has found eternal equilibrium, but the power that is forever breaking every equilibrium, forever searching for a higher one.

Nikos Kazantzakis

God, Mistake, Persistence

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I believe I'm a caterpillar buried deep down under the ground. The entire earth is above me, crushing me and I begin to bore through the soil, making a passage to the surface so that I can penetrate the crust and issue into the light. It's hard work boring through the entire earth, but I'm able to be patient because I have a strong premonition that as soon as I do issue into the light I shall become a butterfly.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Crush, Strong, Believe

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You will, Judas, my brother. God will give you the strength, as much as you lack, because it is necessary—it is necessary for me to be killed and for you to betray me. We two must save the world. Help me." Judas bowed his head. After a moment he asked, "If you had to betray your master, would you do it?" Jesus reflected for a long time. Finally he said, "No, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to. That is why God pitied me and gave me the easier task: to be crucified.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Brother, Jesus, Two

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “The Last Temptation of Christ”, p.421, Simon and Schuster

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The masses do not see the Sirens. They do not hear songs in the air. Blind, deaf, stooping, they pull at their oars in the hold of the earth. But the more select, the captains, harken to a Siren within them...and royally squander their lives with her.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Song, Air, Sirens

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When shall I at last retire into solitude alone, without companions, without joy and without sorrow, with only the sacred certainty that all is a dream? When, in my rags—without desires—shall I retire contented into the mountains? When, seeing that my body is merely sickness and crime, age and death, shall I—free, fearless, and blissful—retire to the forest? When? When, oh when?

Nikos Kazantzakis

Dream, Joy, Fearless

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.25, Simon and Schuster

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Free yourself from one passion to be dominated by another and nobler one. But is not that, too, a form of slavery? To sacrifice oneself to an idea, to a race, to God? Or does it mean that the higher the model the longer the longer the tether of our slavery?

Nikos Kazantzakis

Mean, Passion, Sacrifice

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.24, Simon and Schuster

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God, what is all this talk put out by the popes? Paradise is here, my good man. God, give me no other paradise!

Nikos Kazantzakis

Men, Giving, Good Man

Nikos Kazantzakis (1983). “Freedom Or Death: A Novel”, Touchstone

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All the political, social, and economic improvements, all the technical progress cannot have any regenerating significance, so long as our inner life remains as it is at present. The more the intelligence unveils and violates the secrets of Nature, the more the danger increases and the heart shrinks.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Inspiring, Heart, Long

"Nikos Kazantzakis" by Helen Kazantzakis, (p. 529), 1968.

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Beauty is merciless. You do not look at it, it looks at you and does not forgive.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Forgiving, Doe, Looks

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “Report to Greco”, p.248, Simon and Schuster

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Let your youth have free reign, it won't come again, so be bold and no repenting.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Reign, Youth, Repent

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.180, Simon and Schuster

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For I realize today that it is a mortal sin to violate the great laws of nature. We should not hurry, we should not be impatient, but we should confidently obey the eternal rhythm.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Law, Today, Sin

Nikos Kazantzakis, Carl Wildman (1953). “Zorba the Greek”, p.121, Simon and Schuster

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This book was not written because I wanted to offer a supreme model to the man who struggles; I wanted to show him that he must not fear pain, temptation or death - because all three can be conquered, all three have already been conquered. Christ suffered pain, and since then pain has been sanctified. Temptation fought until the very last moment to lead him astray, and Temptation was defeated. Christ died on the Cross, and at that instant death was vanquished forever.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Pain, Fear, Book

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “The Last Temptation of Christ”, p.4, Simon and Schuster

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He who is invisible sees more clearly, hears more clearly, and is better able to read the thoughts of men.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Men, Able, Invisible

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I possess no weapon but love. With that I have come to do battle. Help me!

Nikos Kazantzakis

Life, Battle, Weapons

Nikos Kazantzakis, Peter Bien (1988). “The Last Temptation of Christ”, p.249, Simon and Schuster

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Every obstacle in his journey became a milestone, an occasion for further triumph. We have a model in front of us now, a model who blazes our trail and gives us strength.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Strength, Journey, Giving

Nikos Kazantzakis (2012). “The Last Temptation of Christ”, p.4, Simon and Schuster

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How simple and frugal a thing is happiness.

Nikos Kazantzakis

Simple, Sea, Chestnuts

Zorba the Greek ch. 7 (1946) (translation by Carl Wildman)

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Born: February 18, 1883
Died: October 26, 1957
Occupation: Writer
Cite this Page: Citation

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