Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
An excerpt from a book I found compelling but difficult to read, given Kazantzakis` overblown style.
We are little grubs, Zorba, minute grubs on the small leaf of a tremendous tree. This small leaf is the earth. The other leaves are the stars that you see moving at night. We make our way on this leaf examining it anxiously and carefully. Some men--- the more intrepid ones --- reach the edge of the leaf. From there we stretch out, gazing into chaos. We tremble. We guess what a frightening abyss lies beneath us. From that moment begins the great danger, Zorba. Some grow dizzy and delirious, others are afraid; they try to find an answer to strengthen their hearts and they say `God!` Others again, from the edge of the leaf, look over the precipice calmly and bravely and say `I like it.`