What are some classic, properly attributed quotes about simple living or living simply (for example by Thoreau, Gandhi, or others) and where do they come from?

Below are a few timeless quotes about living simply, each with its proper attribution and source:

• Mahatma Gandhi reminds us of the impact of a less-is-more lifestyle with his famous words, “Live simply so that others may simply live.”^[1]

• Henry David Thoreau, whose writings on nature and solitude continue to inspire minimalism enthusiasts, is quoted as saying, “Our life is frittered away by detail... simplify, simplify.”^[2] He also observed, “A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.”^[11] And in another classic note, he stated, “I make myself rich by making my wants few.”^[11]

• Oscar Wilde’s wry insight is captured in a letter (as retraced by Quote Investigator): “Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.”^[5]

• Adding to these reflections on intentional living, a well-known collection of simple living quotes—featured on This Evergreen Home—includes the observation by Mother Teresa, “The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.”^[10]

Each of these quotes, backed by their proper sources, offers a reminder to value quality over quantity, to shed unnecessary burdens, and to find contentment in simplicity.