Recharge Your Mind

30 Beautiful Thoughts To Understand Simplicity

Photo Credit: MarcelGermain

In my effort to simplify my lifestyle, I needed to understand the concept of Simplicity in detail and that is how I came across these beautiful thoughts. Even though, I don’t agree with some of them, they are still a great source of inspiration and knowledge as they offer diversified and conflicting perspectives.

You will find that some of these people are actually not big fans of simplicity(#3, #28) while others have a varying opinion on what simplicity is. Still, I believe that each one of them gives us something to think about and helps us build our perspective about the concept.

1. John V. Cheney

The happiest heart that ever beat Was in some quiet breast That found the common daylight sweet, And left to Heaven the rest.

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2. John Morley

Simplicity of character is no hindrance to the subtlety of intellect.

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3. Eugene Delacroix

A taste for simplicity cannot last for long.

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4. Charles Mingus

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.

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5. Henry David Thoreau

Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose.

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6. Richard Halloway

Simplicity, clarity, singleness: these are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy.

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7. Anonymous

Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.

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8. Eleanor Roosevelt

A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.

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9. Hans Hofmann

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.

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10. Confucius

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

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11. Socrates

The fewer our wants, the nearer we resemble the gods.

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12. William Hazlitt

Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought.

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13. Anatole France

Simple style is like white light. It is complex, but its complexity is not obvious.

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14. Jon Franklin

Simplicity, carried to an extreme, becomes elegance.

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15. Sir Joshua Reynolds

Simplicity is an exact medium between too little and too much.

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16. Jessie Sampter

Simplicity is the peak of civilization.

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17. Larry Eisenberg

For peace of mind, we need to resign as general manager of the universe.

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18. Willard Gibbs

The whole is simpler than the sum of its parts.

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19. Steven Wright

You can’t have everything; where would you put it?

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20. Leonardo da Vinci

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

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21. Wu-Men

If you mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, This is the best season of your life.

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22. Lin Yutang

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.  The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

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23. Albert Einstein

Things should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.

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24. Gandhi

Live simply, so others may simply live.

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25. Vernon Howard

You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.

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26. Norman Vincent Peale

We struggle with the complexities and avoid the simplicities.

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27. George Meredith

Perfect simplicity is unconsciously audacious.

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28. Norman Hartnell

I despise simplicity. It is the negation of all that is beautiful.

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29. Lao Tzu

Manifest plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, have few desires.

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30. Alan Perlis

Simplicity does not precede complexity, but follows it.

My personal favorites are #24 and #29. I understand that since simplicity is a concept, it is a very subjective thing, but I do believe that no matter how you define simplicity, it only brings you more strength and greatness.