150 Quotes About Simplicity and Living Well

A few years ago, I found myself sitting in a room filled with “success.” I had the gadgets, the overstuffed bookshelf, and a calendar so packed I needed a second app just to manage the notifications. Yet, despite having everything I thought I wanted, I felt incredibly heavy. My mind was as cluttered as my desk, and the constant noise of modern life was drowning out the things that actually mattered.

That’s when I stumbled across a simple realization: more isn’t always better; often, it’s just more. I started stripping away the excess—first the physical clutter, then the digital noise, and finally the mental habits that were keeping me exhausted. In the quiet that followed, I found a level of contentment I hadn’t known was possible.

I’ve found that simplicity isn’t about deprivation or living in a sterile box. It’s about making room for what you love by removing everything that distracts you from it. These quotes have been my guideposts during that transition, reminding me that a “good life” is often a simple one.

Here is a collection of 150 quotes about simplicity and living well that have helped me refocus on what truly matters. I hope they offer you the same clarity and peace they’ve given me.

Quotes About Simplicity and Inner Peace

Inner peace often feels like a luxury in our fast-paced world, but I’ve learned it’s actually the natural byproduct of a simplified life. When we stop chasing every shiny object and start appreciating the stillness, our perspective shifts. These words remind us that the greatest treasures aren’t found in a store, but in the quiet moments of a balanced life. If you’re looking for more ways to ground yourself, our collection of life quotes that teach wisdom offers deeper insights into living a meaningful life.

“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” — Lao Tzu Lao Tzu’s wisdom reminds us that the most profound truths are often the simplest ones to understand, yet the hardest to practice.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — Leonardo da Vinci Coming from one of history’s greatest geniuses, this reminds us that complexity is often just a mask for lack of clarity.
“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” — Henry David Thoreau Thoreau’s classic call to action is a reminder that we often lose ourselves in the “thick” of life rather than living it.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” — Nelson Mandela While often cited for resilience, this also speaks to the simplicity of focusing on the “rise” rather than the “fall.”
“Simplicity is the journey of life with the right amount of baggage.” — Unknown I love this metaphor because it acknowledges that we all have baggage; the goal is just to carry what’s necessary.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Simplifying your identity is perhaps the most difficult—and rewarding—minimalist act you can perform.
“Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.” — Thomas a Kempis These “wings” allow us to rise above the petty distractions of daily life.
“Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.” — Lao Tzu A roadmap for a life lived with intention and less friction.
“If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, then this is the best season of your life.” — Wu-Men Happiness isn’t something we find; it’s what’s left when we stop cluttering our minds.
“Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit experience and the last effort of genius.” — George Sand We often mistake complexity for intelligence, but true mastery is making the complex simple.
“Contentment comes not so much from great wealth as from few wants.” — Epictetus The Stoics understood that we can either increase our means or decrease our desires. One is much easier than the other.
“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” — Leo Tolstoy Tolstoy connects simplicity directly to our moral character and the quality of our spirit.
“Simplicity of living, if deliberately chosen, implies a very high degree of mental cultivation.” — Charles Wagner It takes a strong mind to say “no” to a world that is constantly screaming “more.”
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” — William James I’ve found that my productivity soared when I stopped trying to do everything and started ignoring the non-essentials.
“Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” — Confucius We are often the architects of our own stress. Simplifying starts with acknowledging our role in the chaos.
“He who knows contentment is rich.” — Lao Tzu
“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” — Henry David Thoreau
“Simple, like uncarved wood.” — Lao Tzu
“The simplest things are often the truest.” — Richard Bach
“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” — Lao Tzu

Wise Sayings on Minimalist Living and Contentment

Minimalism is more than just a trend; it’s a tool for reclaiming your time and energy. When I first started decluttering, I realized that every object I owned was actually a tiny piece of my attention. By letting go of the physical weight, I gained the mental space to pursue my passions. Much of my early inspiration came from reading Joshua Becker at Becoming Minimalist, whose practical approach makes simplicity feel achievable for anyone. These quotes capture the essence of why owning less leads to living more.

“Minimalism is the intentional promotion of things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” — Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus This is my favorite definition of minimalism because it focuses on the “promotion” of what matters.
“The goal of minimalism is not just to own less stuff. The goal of minimalism is to unburden our lives so we can accomplish more.” — Joshua Becker Becker reminds us that the “less” is a means to a “more” meaningful end.
“Owning less is better than organizing more.” — Joshua Becker I used to spend weekends buying bins and labels. Now, I spend them doing what I love because I have less to organize.
“Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” — William Morris This simple rule from the 19th century is still the gold standard for a peaceful home environment.
“Minimalism isn’t about removing the things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.” — Joshua Becker It’s a process of curation, not deprivation.
“The more stuff you own, the more your stuff owns you.” — Anonymous Every possession requires time, money, and mental energy to maintain.
“Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.” — Hosea Ballou We often spend our lives working for things that we think will make us happy, only to find they are just distractions.
“Poverty is my pride.” — Muhammed A radical perspective on finding worth outside of material accumulation.
“He is rich according to what he is, not according to what he has.” — Henry David Beecher Our character is the only currency that actually matters in the long run.
“Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves.” — Edwin Way Teale When we want less, we don’t have to work as hard to sustain a lifestyle we didn’t even want.
“The intention of voluntary simplicity is not to dogmatically live with less. It’s a more demanding intention of living with balance.” — Duane Elgin Balance is the key. It’s about the “middle way” between excess and lack.
“We really must understand that the lust for affluence in contemporary society is psychotic. We crave things we neither need nor enjoy.” — Richard Foster Foster’s strong words remind us to wake up from the trance of consumerism.
“You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” — Charles Spurgeon Contentment is a state of mind, not a state of your bank account.
“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 Every “convenience” we add often brings a new set of chores or worries.
“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” — Vernon Howard Success is the alignment of your desires with your actual needs.
“Believe what your heart tells you when you ask, ‘Does this spark joy?’” — Marie Kondo
“Keep only things that speak to your heart.” — Marie Kondo
“Clutter is not just physical stuff. It’s anything that gets between you and the life you want to be living.” — Peter Walsh
“The less possession you have, the lesser you spend. The less you spend, the less you need to work and more time to enjoy life.” — Unknown
“Many people spend too much money they have yet to earn for things they do not need to impress people they do not like.” — Will Rogers

Inspirational Quotes About Living a Simple Life

Living simply is a daily choice. It’s in how we wake up, how we spend our mornings, and how we interact with the people around us. I’ve found that my happiest days aren’t the ones where I achieve the most, but the ones where I’m most present. Starting the day with the right mindset is crucial, and I often pair these thoughts with positive inspirational quotes for mornings to set a peaceful tone. These quotes inspire a shift in perspective toward a life that values depth over breadth.

“Live simply so that others may simply live.” — Elizabeth Ann Seton This quote connects our personal choices to the global community, emphasizing the ethics of simplicity.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” — Henry David Thoreau Thoreau reminds us to be present in the natural rhythms of life rather than fighting against them.
“I believe that a simple and unassuming manner of life is best for everyone, best both for the body and the mind.” — Albert Einstein When the man who unlocked the secrets of the universe advocates for simplicity, it’s worth listening.
“The simplest things are often the truest.” — Richard Bach Truth doesn’t need layers of complexity to be valid.
“One of the advantages of being born in an affluent society is that if one has any intelligence at all, one will realize that having more and more won’t solve the problem.” — Tenzin Palmo Realizing that external accumulation won’t fix internal voids is a major milestone in personal growth.
“Getting rid of everything that doesn’t matter allows you to remember who you are.” — Courtney Carver Clutter often acts as a mask. When we remove it, we find our authentic selves underneath.
“Simplicity doesn’t change who you are, it brings you back to who you are.” — Courtney Carver It’s a return to form, not a transformation into something new.
“Instead of working so hard to make ends meet, work on having fewer ends.” — Courtney Carver A practical and witty way to think about financial freedom through simplicity.
“If you want others to see the joy in less, live joyfully with less.” — Courtney Carver The best way to advocate for simplicity is to be a living example of the happiness it brings.
“Fewer clothes means less stress, less waste, less clutter, less time standing in front of an overstuffed wardrobe while declaring we have nothing to wear.” — Courtney Carver I’ve found that a “uniform” or capsule wardrobe has saved me hours of decision fatigue every month.
“Simplicity isn’t always easy, but the little changes are just as important as the big ones.” — Courtney Carver Don’t feel like you have to declutter your whole house in a day. Start with one drawer.
“Every morning was a cheerful invitation to make my life of equal simplicity.” — Henry David Thoreau Each day is a fresh start to choose a simpler path.
“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?” — Henry David Thoreau Busyness is often just a socially acceptable form of procrastination from the things that truly matter.
“The laws of the universe will be simpler as you simplify your life. Weakness will not be weakness, poverty will not be poverty nor solitude will be solitude.” — Henry David Thoreau As we simplify, our perspective of our “problems” begins to change.
“Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend.” — Lao Tzu Notice that none of these “treasures” can be bought or stored in a warehouse.
“Behave simply and hold on to purity.” — Lao Tzu
“To find one’s direction, one must remove the complexity of ordinary, everyday life.” — Plato
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.” — Seneca
“Live simply, so others may simply live.” — Mahatma Gandhi
“Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.” — Thomas a Kempis

Powerful Words on Finding Beauty in the Mundane

The danger of a cluttered life is that we miss the small miracles happening right in front of us. When I stopped worrying about the “next big thing,” I started noticing the way the light hits my coffee cup in the morning or the sound of the wind in the trees. These moments are where we truly learn our wise quotes about life lessons and find the extraordinary within the ordinary.

“With a few flowers in my garden, half a dozen pictures and some books, I live without envy.” — Lope de Vega A beautiful reminder that our needs for beauty and intellectual stimulation are actually quite modest.
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupery In design and in life, the “perfect” state is the most essential one.
“The simplest things are often the truest.” — Richard Bach I’ve found that the most profound moments of my life were also the simplest—a walk with a friend, a quiet sunset, a shared meal.
“The aim of science is to achieve simplicity.” — William James Even in complex fields, the goal is to find the simple, elegant laws that govern everything.
“Happiness is a place between too little and too much.” — Finnish Proverb The “just right” of simplicity is where true joy resides.
“I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.” — Henry David Thoreau Privacy and simplicity are often more valuable than the “best” seat in a crowded room.
“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.” — Mother Teresa Freedom and possessions are often on opposite ends of a seesaw.
“Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.” — Oscar Wilde Simplicity helps us focus on the “riches” that are part of our being.
“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” — Plato The classical philosophers understood that aesthetics and ethics are both rooted in the essential.
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.” — Coco Chanel Elegance isn’t about how much you wear, but what you choose to leave off.
“The simpler the way of life, the more we are in harmony with the cosmos.” — Unknown When we stop fighting for more, we start flowing with what is.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” — Robert Brault I keep this quote on my fridge as a daily reminder to pay attention to the “mundane.”
“Simplicity is an exact medium between too little and too much.” — Sir Joshua Reynolds It’s a balancing act that requires constant adjustment and awareness.
“Anything simple always interests me.” — David Hockney There is a profound curiosity that comes with looking at the essential nature of things.
“Life is made of so many partings welded together.” — Charles Dickens Even in our relationships, simplifying helps us appreciate the connections we have.
“Simplicity is the final achievement.” — Frederic Chopin
“The simplest things are the ones that matter most.” — Unknown
“Simplicity is the soul of efficiency.” — Austin Freeman
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” — Hans Hofmann
“Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world.” — George Sand

Encouraging Quotes for Slowing Down and Living Well

We live in a culture that worships speed, but I’ve found that the faster I go, the less I actually experience. Slow living isn’t about being lazy; it’s about being intentional. It’s about choosing quality over quantity in every area of life. If you’re looking for practical ways to step back, the Slow Your Home resources offer excellent guidance on how to declutter your schedule and your soul. These quotes provide the encouragement we need to step off the hamster wheel and start walking at our own pace.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” — Lao Tzu This is my go-to quote when I feel the urge to rush through my to-do list. The seasons don’t rush, and they are perfect.
“The things that matter most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter least.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe When we go too fast, we often lose sight of our priorities and let the “urgent” drown out the “important.”
“Slow down and everything you are chasing will come around and catch you.” — John De Paola I’ve found that when I stop frantically pursuing success, better opportunities actually find their way to me.
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” — Sydney J. Harris This paradox is a reminder that our “need” for speed is often a symptom of burnout.
“Life is what happens while you are making other plans.” — John Lennon Don’t spend your whole life planning for a “simple” future while living a complicated present.
“Slow living is about creating space for what matters.” — Unknown It’s the intentional slowing of our pace to match the speed of our soul.
“The great benefit of slow living is reclaiming the time and triggers that allow us to live a meaningful life.” — Unknown Meaning requires reflection, and reflection requires time.
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Patience is the cornerstone of a simple and well-lived life.
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” — Mahatma Gandhi A simple but profound rebuke to our modern obsession with “efficiency.”
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” — John Lubbock I’ve learned to count my “unproductive” afternoons as some of my most valuable hours.
“Simplicity is the nature of great souls.” — Papa Ramdas Greatness doesn’t need to shout; it has the confidence to be quiet.
“The simple life is its own reward.” — Unknown You don’t need a trophy for living simply; the peace you feel is the prize.
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” — Abraham Lincoln Simplicity helps us put more “life” into every moment.
“He who can rest is greater than he who can take cities.” — Benjamin Franklin Self-control over our own pace is a greater feat than external conquest.
“If you are always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in?” — Ziggy Marley A powerful question for our distraction-filled age.
“The faster you go, the shorter you are.” — Unknown (often attributed to a proverb about time)
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” — Oscar Wilde
“That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” — Emily Dickinson
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” — Haruki Murakami
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Plato

Meaningful Reflections on Values and Priorities

At the heart of simplicity is a question of values. What do we truly care about? If we don’t define our priorities, the world will define them for us—and usually, the world wants us to want more. These reflections help us anchor our lives in something deeper than consumption or status. I’ve often returned to the essays by The Minimalists when I need a reminder that the best things in life aren’t things.

“Minimalism is a practice of intentional living. While it starts with the stuff, it’s ultimately a stewardship program for one’s life.” — Joshua Fields Millburn I love the word “stewardship” here. We are the caretakers of our limited time on earth.
“Both pleasure and happiness are fleeting, which is precisely why neither is a noble goal. But if you live a life that’s congruent with your values, you will experience happiness.” — Joshua Fields Millburn Happiness is the byproduct of integrity, not a target in itself.
“A life without contribution is a life without meaning. The truth is that giving is living.” — Joshua Fields Millburn Simplifying our own lives gives us the resources (time and energy) to help others.
“Ultimately, minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can focus on life’s most important things—which actually aren’t things at all.” — Joshua Fields Millburn The “best things in life” are truly the relationships and experiences we cultivate.
“We are not our stuff. We are more than our possessions. Our memories are within us, not our things.” — Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus I used to hold onto objects because I was afraid of losing the memory. Now I realize the memory is safer in my heart than in a box.
“Have the courage to build your life around what is really most important to you.” — Joshua Becker It takes real bravery to choose a path that doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
“Maybe the life you’ve always wanted is buried under everything you own!” — Joshua Becker This was the “aha” moment for me—that my clutter was physically blocking my dreams.
“We were never meant to live life accumulating stuff. We were meant to live simply enjoying the experiences of life.” — Joshua Becker We are humans being, not humans having.
“The goal of life is living in agreement with nature.” — Zeno The founders of Stoicism saw simplicity as the only logical way to live.
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” — Henry David Thoreau Whenever I’m tempted to buy something, I calculate how many hours of my life I had to “spend” to earn it. Usually, it’s not worth it.
“Simplicity is the glory of expression.” — Walt Whitman Whitman reminds us that the most powerful art and speech are often the most direct.
“To simplify is to liberate.” — Unknown Every thing you get rid of is a tiny chain you’ve broken.
“The more you know, the less you need.” — Aboriginal Proverb Knowledge and wisdom are the ultimate decluttering tools.
“Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.” — Samuel Johnson We often move so fast from one “want” to the next that we forget to enjoy what we already have.
“It’s not always that we need to do more but rather that we need to focus on less.” — Nathan W. Morris Focus is the superpower of the simple life.
“Simplify your life. You don’t need all that stuff.” — Unknown
“The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.” — J.M. Barrie
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.” — Friedrich Nietzsche
“Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life.” — Michael LeBoeuf
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs

Short Simplicity Quotes for Daily Focus

Sometimes, we just need a quick shot of wisdom to keep us on track. I like to keep these short quotes on sticky notes around my workspace or as reminders on my phone. They are the “espresso shots” of the minimalist world—small, concentrated, and instantly effective.

“Simplify, simplify.” — Henry David Thoreau The ultimate two-word manifesto.
“Less is more.” — Mies van der Rohe The phrase that defined modern design and can define your life too.
“Be simple, be real.” — Unknown Authenticity and simplicity are two sides of the same coin.
“Live simply.” — Unknown A direct command for a better life.
“Choose less.” — Unknown A reminder that we have the power to choose.
“Own less, live more.” — Joshua Becker The fundamental equation of minimalism.
“Keep it simple.” — Unknown The best advice for any project or problem.
“Find your enough.” — Unknown Happiness is knowing where the finish line is.
“Let it go.” — Unknown The three words that can save you from a thousand heartaches.
“Do less, better.” — Unknown The key to excellence in a distracted world.
“Simple is beautiful.” — Unknown A reminder to value aesthetics over ornamentation.
“One thing at a time.” — Unknown The antidote to the myth of multitasking.
“Breathe.” — Unknown The simplest act of living, yet the one we often forget to do mindfully.
“Be here now.” — Ram Dass The core of presence and simplicity.
“Less stuff, more space.” — Unknown Space—both physical and mental—is the greatest luxury.
“Think simple.” — Unknown
“Work less, play more.” — Unknown
“Slow down.” — Unknown
“Peace over push.” — Unknown
“Love people, use things.” — The Minimalists
“Clear your mind.” — Unknown
“Focus on the essentials.” — Unknown
“Simplicity is power.” — Unknown
“Choose quality over quantity.” — Unknown
“Simplify your surroundings.” — Unknown
“Less but better.” — Dieter Rams
“Unclutter your life.” — Unknown
“Find peace in simplicity.” — Unknown
“The best things aren’t things.” — Unknown
“Start where you are.” — Arthur Ashe

I’ve found that the journey toward simplicity is never truly “finished.” It’s a practice of daily choices—what to say yes to, what to let go of, and how to spend the precious hours of our lives. But even on the days when it feels hard to swim against the current of a consumerist world, I come back to these words.

They remind me that the weight I’m carrying isn’t necessary, and that the path to a meaningful life is often much lighter than I thought. I hope these quotes inspire you to start your own journey toward less, so you can finally find your own version of “more.”