writer and philosopher, celebrated for his novel Zorba the Greek
, considered his magnum opus. He became known globally after the 1964 release of the Michael Cacoyannis film Zorba the Greek, based on the novel.
When Kazantzakis was born in 1883 in Heraklion
, Crete had not yet joined the modern Greek state
, (which had been established in 1830) and was still under the rule of the Ottoman Empire
.
I am a mariner of Odysseus with heart of fire but with mind ruthless and clear.
There is only one woman in the world. One woman, with many faces.
The doors of heaven and hell are adjacent and identical.
There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a man, you are the Son of man whom Daniel prophesied." And still more: "The Son of God! And still more: God!"
God, what is all this talk put out by the popes? Paradise is here, my good man. God, give me no other paradise!
We, who are dying, are doing better, than they, who will live. For Crete doesn't need householders, she needs madmen like us. These madmen make Crete immortal.
I said to the almond tree: "Speak to me of God."and the almond tree blossomed.
Every perfect traveller always creates the country where he travels.