We are sharing our Top 70 Favorite Quotes About Minimalism. Are you familiar with our journey to minimalism? If not, read more about how we got here.
If you are like us, you love intuitive quotes or affirmations to give you some motivation. Living our lives as minimalists, we can often seek camaraderie in others who have paved the way before us. There are plenty of minimalist quotes out there, but we also like to reflect on those who lived and are living a meaningful life without stuff.
If you are seeking some inspiration for living a life of minimalism, tiny living, a simple lifestyle, or a small space dwelling, we’ve got what you need. Here are minimalism quotes that are sure to at least, get you thinking more about considering a minimalist lifestyle
Our Top Quotes About Minimalism
“The greatest step towards a life of simplicity is to learn to let go.” – Steve Maraboli
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
“The less I have, the freer I am to do whatever I want to do.” – Bonnie Raitt
“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.” – Mother Teresa
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
“Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.” – Epictetus
“You don’t need a whole lot of money to have a good time. All you need is a little conversation and a couple of friends.” – Tom Petty
“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.” – Socrates
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” – Coco Chanel
“He who is contented is rich.” – Lao Tzu
How We Embrace a Minimalist Lifestyle
Embracing a minimalist lifestyle has become our norm, but we’re aware that stuff can sneak back into our lives unnoticed. We created a 30-day Declutter Challenge—a complimentary download we now share with others. This challenge helps us clear out accumulated items from our home and free ourselves from negative mindsets.
“Material things ain’t nothing; you feel me? At the end of the day, it’s who you got beside you.” – Kendrick Lamar
“It is preoccupation with possession, more than anything else, that prevents men from living freely and nobly.” – Bertrand Russell
“Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.” – Charles Dudley Warner
Letting go of physical clutter also declutters the mind and soul.” – Leo Babauta
“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” – Lao Tzu
“Clutter is not just physical stuff; it’s also the things that hold you back emotionally and mentally.” – Peter Walsh
“Simplicity is the glory of expression.” – Walt Whitman
“I believe in living simply. I believe in minimalism as a way of life.” – Anne Truitt
“Simplicity is nature’s first step, and the last of art.” – Philip James Bailey
“Simplicity is the essence of happiness.” – Cedric Bledsoe
No-Buy Year
Have you ever thought about trying a No-Buy Year? We did! You can read more about our no-buy year and learn about our challenges and successes. Quotes about minimalism helped us get through it!
“Simplicity is not about deprivation. It is about a greater appreciation for things that really matter.” – Anonymous
“The simplest things are often the truest.” – Richard Bach
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” – Bernard M. Baruch
“A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart.” – Jonathan Swift
“Life is for living, not for living uptight.” – Pharrell Williams
“The more things you own, the more they own you.” – Unknown
“Simplicity involves unburdening your life, and living more lightly with fewer distractions that interfere with a high-quality life, as defined uniquely by each individual.” – Linda Breen Pierce
“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.” – Marie Kondo
Minimalism Capsule Wardrobe
Ever wondered about the buzz around a minimalist capsule wardrobe? Curious about how to create one for yourself? Read more here about simple tips and tricks to curate your own capsule wardrobe while staying true to your unique personal style. Many quotes about minimalism can help!
Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.” – Will Rogers
“Minimalism is not the lack of something. It’s the perfect amount of something.” – Nicholas Burroughs
“Love people and use things. The opposite never works.” – Joshua Fields Millburn
“So in fact, narrowing down our choices means less overwhelm, and more creativity.” – Courtney Carver
“Minimalism isn’t about removing things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.” – Fumio Sasaki
“Simplify, simplify, simplify!” – Henry David Thoreau
“Minimalism is living a beautiful life with less stuff.” – Francine Jay
“Tiny living is not about sacrifice; it’s about freedom and intention.” – The Tiny Life
“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it.” – Joshua Becker
“Don’t need a whole lot of money. All I need is love.” – The Black Eyed Peas
Minimalism Thoughts on Renting vs. Buying
The dilemma of renting versus buying a house as a minimalist can be challenging. Having lived as minimalists for several years, we often find ourselves justifying our choice to rent after selling our home and possessions to embrace the life we truly desired. We break down the pros and cons for you here.
“The more we simplify our lives, the more we can appreciate and connect with the beauty and abundance of the whole world around us.” – Unknown
“Life is not about the stuff you accumulate, but the memories you create and the love you share.” – Unknown
“The less I needed, the better I felt.” – Charles Bukowski
“The things you own end up owning you.” – Chuck Palahniuk
“The best things in life are not things.” – Art Buchwald
“Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” – Epicurus
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.” – Nat King Cole
“He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” – Confucius
“A simple life is a beautiful life.” – Unknown
“Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s old ideas, toxic relationships, and bad habits.” – Eleanor Brownn
Slow Fashion- Minimalism
Slow fashion represents the steady shift towards a sustainable and ethical fashion industry. It encompasses a comprehensive approach to clothing production that prioritizes every aspect of the supply chain, taking into account the well-being of people, the environment, and animals. We break down slow fashion vs fast fashion for you.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Clare Boothe Luce
“I’ve got everything I need and nothing that I don’t” – Zac Brown Band
“Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.” – Nathan W. Morris
The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou
“A big life can fit in a tiny home.” – Tiny House Magazine
“All you need is love, love. Love is all you need.” – The Beatles
“Live simply, so that others may simply live.” – Elizabeth Ann Seton
“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
“The minimalist lifestyle is not about giving up material possessions; it’s about gaining more time, energy, and freedom.” – Anonymous
Minimalism Helps Our Mental Health
Most don’t delve enough into the enduring effects and continuous benefits minimalism brings in terms of stress reduction and its significant contribution to maintaining mental wellness. Read more about how minimalism helps our mental health.
“Money can’t buy life.” – Bob Marley
“I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” – Emma Goldman
“I don’t need a whole lot of money, I don’t need a big, fine car. I got everything that a man could want; I got more than I could ask for.” – James Brown
“The more you know, the less you need.” – Yvon Chouinard
“Simplicity is the key to brilliance.” – Bruce Lee
“I have always been interested in simplicity. To me, simplicity is beauty.” – Carmen Herrera
“The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” – Albert Einstein
“Simplicity, clarity, singularity: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy.” – Jane Siberry
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato
Using Quotes About Minimalism For Inspo
These quotes about minimalism exemplify the allure of residing in compact spaces, underscoring the advantages of simplicity, purposefulness, and the liberation that comes with tiny living. Embracing a minimalistic lifestyle allows us to focus on what truly holds significance and cultivate profound experiences despite a smaller physical space.
We truly feel that our journey toward a minimal life has allowed us to focus on the important things in life. Those important things? They are not materialistic. They are adventures, relationships, and experiences.
FAQs | Frequently Asked Questions
Back in 2017, we owned our own business and worked 24/7. Having our minds constantly cluttered with business, we began feeling like we needed to have minimal, clutter-free space- a sanctuary where we could only reflect on what mattered. Hence, our now minimalist lifestyle.
We actively declutter all the time, but a formal declutter challenge? Twice/year.
We do not live in a designated tiny home. Rather, we live in a small home- about 750 square feet.
