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.
Interpretation
Happiness is found in the simplicity of life's small pleasures.
In this quote, Kazantzakis reflects on the notion that true happiness comes not from wealth or material possessions, but rather from appreciating life's simple and often overlooked joys. The imagery of a glass of wine, a roast chestnut, and the sound of the sea emphasizes that contentment can be derived from modest experiences rather than extravagant ones.
In practice
This quote is perfect for discussing the importance of finding joy in everyday life during a motivational speech.
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.
When things go wrong and will not come right, Though you do the best you can, When life looks black as the hour of night, A PINT OF PLAIN IS YOUR ONLY MAN.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why oh why can't I?
I am also convinced that one gains the purest joy from spirited things only when they are not tied in with earning one's livelihood.
There are days when simply seeing feels like happiness itself....You feel so rich, the elation seems almost excessive and you want to share it
Each human being has the right to seek out joy, joy being understood as something which makes one content - not necessarily that which makes others content.
That guy just cut right in front of me. But I'm not going to let it bother me. No. I'm on my way to work and I decided it doesn't matter who wants to cut in front of my lane today. I'm not going to let it bother me one bit. Once I get to work, find myself a parking space, if somebody wants to jump ahead of me and take it, I'm going to let them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.