--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The struggle between God and man breaks…" description: "\"The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation... God does not love weak souls and flabby flesh...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bird_the-struggle-between-god-and-man-breaks_1289255.jpg" --- # The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone… ![“The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation... God does not love weak souls and flabby flesh. The spirit desires to wrestle with flesh which is strong and full of resistance. It is a carnivorous bird which is incessantly hungry; it eats…” quote by Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bird_the-struggle-between-god-and-man-breaks_1289255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bird_the-struggle-between-god-and-man-breaks_1289255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_bird_the-struggle-between-god-and-man-breaks_1289255.jpg) > “The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation... God does not love weak souls and flabby flesh. The spirit desires to wrestle with flesh which is strong and full of resistance. It is a carnivorous bird which is incessantly hungry; it eats flesh and, by assimilating it, makes it disappear.” [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human nature is torn between divine aspirations and earthly desires, craving both transcendence and physical strength. **In simple terms:** People struggle between spiritual ideals and bodily urges. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance inner conflicts. Themes spirituality human nature conflict desire reconciliation Mood reflective intense Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual practice - creative work - relationship building Key Concepts dualism carnivorous metaphor existential struggle Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile spiritual goals with bodily needs? - What does “carnivorous bird” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex emotions and reduce them to animalistic drives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Eats Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eats-flesh-685808/) [Flabby Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flabby-flesh-4194351/) [Flesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [God and man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-and-man/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Reconciliation God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconciliation-god-744417/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Struggle God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle-god-283377/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) ## Related quotes > [The struggle between God and man breaks out in everyone, together with the longing for reconciliation. Most often this struggle is unconscious and short-lived.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-struggle-between-god-and-man-breaks-out-in-everyone-together-with-2/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. 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Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [Christianity alone teaches that our only way for reconciliation with God is by his grace that is received through faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/christianity-alone-teaches-that-our-only-way-for-reconciliation-with/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [“Locating friendship at the heart of mission involves certain assumptions -- that reconciliation with God is something for which every human being is made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-heuertz/locating-friendship-at-the-heart-of-mission-involves-certain/) [Christopher Heuertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-heuertz/) > [The only reason Christ submitted himself to the horrendous experience of bearing the sins of the entire world is because his death provided the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/the-only-reason-christ-submitted-himself-to-the-horrendous-experience/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [Christianity has from its beginning portrayed itself as a gospel of peace, a way of reconciliation (with God, with other creatures), and a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/christianity-has-from-its-beginning-portrayed-itself-as-a-gospel-of/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) ## More by Nikos Kazantzakis > [“We gaze with perplexity at the highest part of the spiral of force that governs the Universe. 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