What a miracle life is and how alike are all souls when they send their roots down deep and meet and are one!
Interpretation
Life is a miraculous experience that connects all souls deeply.
In this quote, Kazantzakis emphasizes the beauty of life and the fundamental interconnectedness of all human beings. He suggests that when individuals root themselves deeply in their experiences and emotions, they unify with one another, transcending surface differences and forming a collective spiritual bond.
In practice
In a speech about community, one might say, 'As Kazantzakis reminds us, what a miracle life is when we recognize our shared humanity.'
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.
This, I thought, is how great visionaries and poets see everything- as if for the first time. Each morning they see a new world before their eyes; they do not really see it, they create it.
What happiness this is: to fly, skimming over the earth just as we do in our dreams! Life has become a dream. Can this be the meaning of paradise?
I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen.
The dual substance of Christ - the yearning, so human, so superhuman, of man to attain God. [...] has always been a deep inscrutable mystery to me. [...] My principle anguish and source of all my joys and sorrows from my youth onward has been the incessant, merciless battle between the spirit and the flesh. [...] And my soul is the arena where these two armies have clashed and met.
I fight to embrace the entire circle of human activity to the full extent of my ability.
Have regular hours for work and play; make each day both useful and pleasant, and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, and life will become a beautiful success.
How odd to watch a mortal kindle / Then to dwindle day by day / Knowing their bright souls are tinder / And the wind will have its way
Live in such a way, that if someone speaks badly of you no one would belive it. Playing dress-up begins at age five and never truly ends.
There is no true life. Your true life is the one you end up with, whatever it may be. You just do the best you can with what you've got.
Since cancer, I feel like I have dreams rather than ambitions, visions rather than plans.
Drink wine. This is life eternal. This is all that youth will give you. It is the season for wine, roses and drunken friends. Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.
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