Zorba lived life to the hilt long before the advent of political correctness. He wouldn’t have had much time for it even if he had lived to see it.
But this comment made me laugh, particularly the relegation of chamomile tea to the unpleasant aspects of life. I grew 150 chamomile plants from seed and spent hours harvesting their flowers – Zorba would run a mile.
None of which prevents my promoting him as a candidate for a Nuannaarpoq award.
“Have you noticed, boss, everything good in this world is an invention of the devil? Pretty women, spring, roast suckling, wine – the devil made them all! God made monks, fasting, chamomile-tea and ugly women…”
Source: Zorba the Greek, Nikos Kazantzakis, trans. Carl Wildman, Faber & Faber, p. 230
Photo credit: cocoparisienne at pixabay.com
I totally agree – Zorba should get the award, but for this: Look, one day I had gone to a little village. An old grandfather of ninety was busy planting an almond tree. ‘What, grandfather!’ I exclaimed. ‘Planting an almond tree?’ And he, bent as he was, turned around and said: ‘My son, I carry on as if I should never die.’ I replied: ‘And I carry on as if I was going to die any minute.’ Or for: I hope nothing. I fear nothing. I am free.
Wonderful, thank you for the added evidence in favour of Zorba winning a Nuannaarpoq Award!