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Every man has his own circle composed of trees, animals, men, ideas, and he is in duty bound to save this circle. He, and no one else. If he does not save it, he cannot be saved. These are the labors each man is given and is in duty bound to complete before he dies. He may not otherwise be saved. For his own soul is scattered and enslaved in these things about him, in trees, in animals, in men, in ideas, and it is his own soul he saves by completing these labors.

Nikos Kazantzakis#91

DutySoulResponsibilityConnection

About this quote

What does it mean?
Each person must save their specific world of connections and ideas, or their own soul remains enslaved.
In plain terms
You must protect what matters to you or you lose yourself.
What can you take from it?
Protect your unique circle of connections to save your soul.

Where it applies

  • personal growth
  • community building
  • identity work

Putting it to work

  • identify your circle
  • protect your values

Questions to consider

  • What circle do you need to save?
  • What are your labors?

Another view

It places the burden of salvation solely on individual effort.

More from Nikos Kazantzakis

  1. We do not only free God by battling and subduing the visible world about us; we also create God. 'Open your eyes,' God shouts; 'I want to see! Prick up your ea…

    Permalink to quote #90
  2. If you are a man of learning, fight in the skull, kill ideas and create new ones. God hides in every idea as in every cell of flesh. Smash the idea, set him fr…

    Permalink to quote #92
  3. Contend with the powers of nature, force them to the yoke of superior purpose. Free that spirit which struggles within them and longs to mingle with that spiri…

    Permalink to quote #89

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