--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have but a single moment at our…" description: "\"“We have but a single moment at our disposal. Let us transform that moment into eternity. No other form of immortality exists”\" — Nikos Kazantzakis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_death_we-have-but-a-single-moment-at-our-dispo_2083875.jpg" --- # We have but a single moment at our disposal. Let us… ![“We have but a single moment at our disposal. Let us transform that moment into eternity. No other form of immortality exists” quote by Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_death_we-have-but-a-single-moment-at-our-dispo_2083875.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_death_we-have-but-a-single-moment-at-our-dispo_2083875.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/341/nikos-kazantzakis-1116_death_we-have-but-a-single-moment-at-our-dispo_2083875.jpg) > ““We have but a single moment at our disposal. Let us transform that moment into eternity. No other form of immortality exists”” [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. Life is fleeting; we must make each instant timeless through meaningful action. **In simple terms:** Make each moment count. Key Takeaway Act as if your deeds outlive you. Themes mortality legacy mindfulness Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal decisions - creative projects - relationships - public service Key Concepts existentialism eternity purpose Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a routine task into something lasting? - What legacy do you wish to leave? A Different Perspective Eternity is not guaranteed; actions may be forgotten. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Immortality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immortality/) [Single moment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/single-moment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“And in the midst of our dying, as we rise from the organic and sink back ignominiously into the organic, it is a glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/and-in-the-midst-of-our-dying-as-we-rise-from-the-organic-and-sink/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Children are the only form of immortality that we can be sure of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/children-are-the-only-form-of-immortality-that-we-can-be-sure-of/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) > [“Whatever teaches us to talk to ourselves is important: whatever teaches us to sing ourselves out of despair. But the painting has also taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/whatever-teaches-us-to-talk-to-ourselves-is-important-whatever-2/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [If time has no beginning and no end, everything is happening, will happen, has happened, at the same moment. All eternity in a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shekhar-kapur/if-time-has-no-beginning-and-no-end-everything-is-happening-will/) [Shekhar Kapur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shekhar-kapur/) > [“It is fine to live two different moments of time as one: that alone allows one to live authentically a single moment of eternity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-jarry/it-is-fine-to-live-two-different-moments-of-time-as-one-that-alone/) [Alfred Jarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-jarry/) > [There's one form of immortality I like to think about. It's that all those who from the very first have given anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-glaspell/there-s-one-form-of-immortality-i-like-to-think-about-it-s-that-all/) [Susan Glaspell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-glaspell/) > [“emulation is a sincere form of flattery, but individuality is the only form of immortality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/emulation-is-a-sincere-form-of-flattery-but-individuality-is-the-only/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [Living forever in the hearts of your loved ones and the world is the one and only form of immortality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misses-s-barajas/living-forever-in-the-hearts-of-your-loved-ones-and-the-world-is-the/) [Misses S Barajas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misses-s-barajas/) > [“... each one of us will face a moment when eternity whispers into our hearts, This is your time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-w-smith/each-one-of-us-will-face-a-moment-when-eternity-whispers-into-our/) [Michael W. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-w-smith/) > [It was the meanest moment of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zora-neale-hurston/it-was-the-meanest-moment-of-eternity/) [Zora Neale Hurston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zora-neale-hurston/) > [“It is a moment, and it is eternity. It is the centre of the universe and it is the universe itself. The eternal light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-nesbit/it-is-a-moment-and-it-is-eternity-it-is-the-centre-of-the-universe/) [Edith Nesbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-nesbit/) > [Surrender, I give in another moment is another eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killswitch-engage/surrender-i-give-in-another-moment-is-another-eternity/) [Killswitch Engage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killswitch-engage/) > [Photography is, for me, a spontaneous impulse coming from an ever attentive eye which captures the moment and its eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-cartier-bresson/photography-is-for-me-a-spontaneous-impulse-coming-from-an-ever/) [Henri Cartier-Bresson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-cartier-bresson/) > [In tragedy every moment is eternity; in comedy, eternity is a moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-fry/in-tragedy-every-moment-is-eternity-in-comedy-eternity-is-a-moment/) [Christopher Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-fry/) > [“I adore you, my greatest love, as only through you I can find my moment’s eternity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sorin-cerin/i-adore-you-my-greatest-love-as-only-through-you-i-can-find-my-moment/) [Sorin Cerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sorin-cerin/) ## More by Nikos Kazantzakis > [“We gaze with perplexity at the highest part of the spiral of force that governs the Universe. And we call it God. We could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/we-gaze-with-perplexity-at-the-highest-part-of-the-spiral-of-force/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I collect my tools: sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing, intellect. Night has fallen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-collect-my-tools-sight-smell-touch-taste-hearing-intellect-night/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Everything in this world has a hidden meaning, I thought. Men, animals, trees, stars, they are all hieroglyphics; woe to anyone who begins to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/everything-in-this-world-has-a-hidden-meaning-i-thought-men-animals/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Good Lord, how can the rich bear to die?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/good-lord-how-can-the-rich-bear-to-die/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“Religion is opium for the masses”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/religion-is-opium-for-the-masses/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I possess no weapon but love. With that I have come to do battle. Help me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-possess-no-weapon-but-love-with-that-i-have-come-to-do-battle-help/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Today, any action anywhere on earth has an immediate repercussion on all five continents. News of a victory of the Eastern armies in Morocco…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/today-any-action-anywhere-on-earth-has-an-immediate-repercussion-on/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“The Lord preserve us from sainthood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-lord-preserve-us-from-sainthood/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“You have everything but one thing: madness. A man needs a little madness or else - he never dares cut the rope and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/you-have-everything-but-one-thing-madness-a-man-needs-a-little/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [“A man needs a little madness, or else... he never dares cut the rope and be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/a-man-needs-a-little-madness-or-else-he-never-dares-cut-the-rope-and/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [There's a devil inside me which cries, "You're not the son of the Carpenter, you're the son of King David! You are not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/there-s-a-devil-inside-me-which-cries-you-re-not-the-son-of-the/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [Lions and Lambs, love and force, light and fire, good and evil: all things climb the same mountain, the mountain of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/lions-and-lambs-love-and-force-light-and-fire-good-and-evil-all/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [I say one thing, you write another, and those who read you understand still something else! I say: cross, death, kingdom of heaven, God...and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/i-say-one-thing-you-write-another-and-those-who-read-you-understand/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/no-you-re-not-free-he-said-the-string-you-re-tied-to-is-perhaps-no/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) > [The masses do not see the Sirens. They do not hear songs in the air. Blind, deaf, stooping, they pull at their oars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikos-kazantzakis/the-masses-do-not-see-the-sirens-they-do-not-hear-songs-in-the-air/) [Nikos Kazantzakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) [Explore all 275 Nikos Kazantzakis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikos-kazantzakis/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. 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Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. 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