Last month I shared my favorite frugal living quotes with you. Today I want to expand upon that by sharing some of my favorite minimalism quotes.
What Is Minimalism?
Minimalism has similarities and differences with frugal living. Lots of different people have defined it in different ways. In fact, some of my favorite minimalism quotes are those that helps us define what it means. But, basically, I would say that minimalism is a lifestyle in which you reduce consumerism in order to focus on values. It doesn’t mean that you get rid of everything. Instead, I think it means that you identify your life values then keep only those things that are necessary to supporting them.
Quotes Defining Minimalism
The following quotes help define what minimalism is all about:
- “Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.” -Edwin Way Teale
- “Make things as simple as possible but no simpler.” -Albert Einstein
- “You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” -Vernon Howard
- “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
And I think this one really sums up the definition of minimalism nicely for me:
“Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” -William Morris
Other Favorite Minimalism Quotes
Here are some other quotes that inspire me in terms of minimalism:
“We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties.” -Anna C. Brackett
The quotes in the section above help define what minimalism is. This, in contrast, helps us see why to choose it as a way of life. I know that the more things I have, the more things I have to care for, and this adds stress.
“One can furnish a room very luxuriously by taking out furniture rather than putting it in.” -Francis Jourdain
This reminds me to pause, look around, and see what I can remove. In doing this with physical things, I’ve also learned to do it with mental things. Often, I don’t need another life hack, for example, but instead just need to take something off of my plate.
“I have to remind myself to live simply and not overindulge, which is a constant battle in a material world.” -Sandra Cisneros
This reminds me to question why I might want to purchase more things. Is it because the world around me is pressuring me to do so? This keeps my eye on my values.
Put a little more aggressively:
“We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. It is psychotic because it has completely lost touch with reality. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.” -Richard Foster
Quote source: Becoming Minimalist
Read More:
- Save Money Being a Minimalist
- What Items Should Be On a Minimalist Grocery List
- Frugal Art: 7 Affordable Ways to Decorate Your Home
Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.