Nikos Kazantzakis Quotes

I am a weak, ephemeral creature made of mud and dream. But I feel all the powers of the universe whirling within me.

I said only one word, brought only one message: Love. Love – nothing else.

There is no harsher means of punishment, than to answer malice with kindness.

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.

Every perfect traveler always creates the country where he travels.

The only thing I know is this: I am full of wounds and still standing on my feet.

If a woman sleeps alone it puts a shame on all men. God has a very big heart, but there is one sin He will not forgive. If a woman calls a man to her bed and he will not go.

Thus night with all her snares passed through the upper world and baited all heads sweetly, fed all foolish hopes, for night can bring to men all shrewish day denies, wrapped as a gift in the green leaves of opiate dream.

Two equally steep and bold paths may lead to the same peak. To act as if death did not exist, or to act thinking every minute of death, is perhaps the same thing.

A slave’s soul has no worth, my brothers; it lacks strength to tread on this great earth with gallantry and freedom. I pity the poor slaves, they’re nought but airy mist, a light breeze scatters them, a fragrance knocks them down; it’s only just they crawl on the earth on hands and knees. Today I’ll write a hymn to God and pray for this great grace.

Three kinds of souls, three prayers: 1) I am a bow in your hands, Lord. Draw me, lest I rot. 2) Do not overdraw me, Lord. I shall break. 3) Overdraw me, Lord, and who cares if I break.

If only we know, boss, what the stones and rain and flowers say. Maybe they call-call us-and we don’t hear them. When will people’s ears open, boss? When shall we have our eyes open to see? When shall we open our arms to embrace everything-stones, rain, flowers, and people? What do you think about that, boss? And what do your books have to say about that?