Nikos Kazantzakis

I have no idea to what write for now but I think it's good that I have such urge to keep writing- by that of course I mean typing- so I'm just gonna copy, take a note of some quotes worth to keep or maybe at least for aesthetic purpose. I will keep this updated each time I found a new one. And later on perhaps I can use it for Insta captions, sort of. This is what I thought at first until I realized the quotes I found were from same writer and he really caught my attention. So for todays night writing, I present to you... the Greek philosopher and writer, Nikos Kazantzakis.

Once, I saw a bee drown in honey, and I understood.

My soul comes from better worlds, and I have an incurable homesickness of the stars.

If I were fire, I would burn; if I were a woodcutter I would strike. But I am a heart, and I love.

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

Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.

My entire soul is a cry, and all my work is a commentary on that cry. 

You can knock on a deaf man's door forever.

Forward, my lads, sail on, for Death's breeze blows is a fair wind!

- Nikos Kazantzakis, 'Report to Greco', Greek Writer and Journalist ( 1883 - 1957)

Suddenly found this quite prominent but underrated writer figure from Instagram. Not really well known compared to Dostoevsky, I think. Might dig more into him and his work. And the quote is quite empowering and eye-opening too. I'm just throwing out words now but I really, genuinely like the quotes. 

He was a prominent Greek write from Heraklion, Crete; best known for his novel 'Zorba the Greek' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. Might try to find his book or at least read the summary somewhere. Also, 'The Odyssey, a Modern Sequel'. He was nominated 9 times for the Noble Prize in literature but never won even once.

Kazantzakis' work focus on existential themes and spirit of human. He was said to be a believer who lost his faith and fighting his inability to believe in god; an atheist who wanted to believe but could not embrace the Christian Church's 'Christ of Faith'. Later on, Kazantzakis declared that we find meaning in life by struggling against universal entropy, an idea he connected with god. 

I watched a short video on yt of some kind of summary for Zorba the Greek, 12 rules for life. I didn't really get all the point but here's a simplified one.

Simple life, don't complicate. Only animals live to eat (have purpose in life). The day is man, to work; night's a woman, to enjoy yourself- don't mix it up. Clever people and grocers weights everything ( I'm not sure if I get it but I can understand a bit). Have a little madness to be dare and free; take risk and have courage. Man is brute, unpredictable. You can knocks on a deaf man's door forever. (Purpose is not sufficient, make sure it has impacts, that's how I perceived it). Do things properly. Last but not least, life's a trouble, death is not. To be alive is to look for trouble.

This is plenty for tonight. That's all.