This book is not a biography; it is the confession of every man who struggles. In publishing it I have fulfilled my duty, the duty of a person who st… - Nikos Kazantzakis

"No, you're not free," he said. "The string you're tied to is perhaps no longer than other people's. That's all. You're on a long piece of string, boss; you come and go, and think you're free, but you never cut the string in two. And when people don't cut that string . . ."
"I'll cut it some day!" I said defiantly, because Zorba's words had touched an open wound in me and hurt.
"It's difficult, boss, very difficult. You need a touch of folly to do that; folly, d'you see? You have to risk everything! But you've got such a strong head, it'll always get the better of you. A man's head is like a grocer; it keeps accounts: I've paid so much and earned so much and that means a profit of this much or a loss of that much! The head's a careful little shopkeeper; it never risks all it has, always keeps something in reserve. It never breaks the string. Ah no! It hangs on tight to it, the bastard! If the string slips out of its grasp, the head, poor devil, is lost, finished! But if a man doesn't break the string, tell me, what flavor is left in life? The flavor of camomile, weak camomile tea! Nothing like rum-that makes you see life inside out!"

…Man’s heart is a ditch full of blood. The loved ones who have died throw themselves down on the bank of this ditch to drink the blood and so come to life again; the dearer they are to you, the more of your blood they drink.” - The Narrator.

كلا، لا أؤمن بأي شيء، كم مرةً يجب أن أقول لك ذلك؟ إنني لا أؤمن بشي ولا بأي شخصٍ آخر، بل بزوربا وحده. ليس لأن زوربا أفضل من الآخرين، ليس ذلك مطلقاً، مطلقاً! إنه بهيمة هو الآخر، لكنني أؤمن بزوربا لأنه الوحيد الذي يقع تحت سلطتي، الوحيد الذي أعرفه وكل الآخرين إنما هم أشباح. إنني أرى بعينيه وأسمع بأذنيه وأهضم بأمعائه وكل الآخرين، أقول لك، أشباح. عندما أموت أنا، فكل شيء يموت، إن كل العالم الزوربي سينهار دفعة واحدة!