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I felt that human partitions - bodies, brains, and souls - were capable of being demolished, and that humanity might return again, after frightfully bloody wandering, to its primeval, divine oneness. In this condition, there is no such thing as 'me', 'you', and 'he'; everything is a unity and this unity is a profound mystic intoxication in which death loses its scythe and ceases to exist. Separately, we die one by one, but all together we are immortal. Like prodigal sons, after so much hunger, thirst, and rebellion, we spread our arms and embrace our two parents: heaven and earth.

Nikos Kazantzakis#145

UnityHumanityConnectionImmortality

About this quote

What does it mean?
Humanity can transcend individual divisions to find unity and immortality through connection.
In plain terms
Individual parts are separate, but together humanity is one and immortal.
What can you take from it?
Find immortality through unity with others.

Where it applies

  • seeking connection
  • overcoming division

Putting it to work

  • build unity
  • embrace toeness

Questions to consider

  • How do you experience unity?
  • What divides humanity today?

Another view

Unity is abstract and may not solve practical conflicts.

More from Nikos Kazantzakis

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  2. Once more I realized to what an extent earthly happiness is made to the measure of man. It is not a rare bird which we must pursue at one moment in heaven, at …

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  3. Every word is an adamantine shell which encloses a great explosive force. To discover its meaning you must let it burst inside you like a bomb and in this way …

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