February 18

Born in Normandy in 1658, Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre was a visionary writer whose ideas anticipated modern notions of international cooperation. In his influential work 'Projet pour rendre la paix perpétuelle en Europe', he proposed a federation of European states, a standing army, and mechanisms to prevent war. Saint-Pierre's writings also addressed agrarian reform, education, and judicial renewal. Despite criticism from contemporaries, his utopian concepts inspired later thinkers on federalism and humanitarianism. He corresponded with leading intellectuals of his time and was a member of several academies. He died in 1743, remembered as a pioneering advocate for peace and reform.

Nikos Kazantzakis (1883–1957) was a Greek author, philosopher, and playwright whose works explore existential, spiritual, and national themes. Born in Crete, he studied law and philosophy in Athens, Leipzig, and Paris before embarking on a prolific writing career. His novels 'Zorba the Greek' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ' achieved global acclaim and sparked debate for their bold ideas. Kazantzakis also penned plays, poems, and travelogues that blended Greek cultural identity with universal questions of freedom and faith. His intellectual depth and poetic vision made him one of modern Greece's foremost literary figures.