I used to think that being fed up with “stuff” was a symptom of modern times. Globalization has made material goods inexpensive and widely available, and satisfying our consumer desires has become almost too easy.
However, philosophers have been railing against materialism for millenia — well before megamarts and “everyday low prices” came on the scene.
I thought I’d share some of this ancient minimalist wisdom with you today. First, because I think it’s inspirational, and second, because I have a thing for philosophers (in my book, brains are much sexier than brawn!).
I’ll be on the road for a few days, so hope these deep thoughts will tide you over until I return. If you’ve commented before, your new comments should appear immediately; first-timers, yours will stay in the queue and be published as soon as I’m back.
I’ve focused today on ancient Western philosophers, and will devote a future post to my favorites from the East. So, without further ado, here’s some minimalist food for thought:
“All things were ready for us at our birth; it is we that have made everything difficult for ourselves, through our disdain for what is easy.” –Seneca, c. 4 BC – 65 AD
“Philosophy consists in avoiding excess in everything.” –Pythagoras, c. 570 BC – c. 495 BC
“It is better for you to be free of fear lying upon a bed of straw, than to have a golden couch and a lavish table and be full of trouble.” –Epicurus, c. 341 BC – c. 270 BC
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” –Marcus Aurelius, 121 – 180 AD
“I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.” –Diogenes, c. 412 BC – 323 BC
“Money, which ever since it began to be regarded with respect, has caused the ruin of the true honour of things; we become alternately merchants and merchandise, and we ask, not what a thing truly is, but what it costs.” –Seneca, c. 4 BC – 65 AD
“To you, all you have seems small: to me, all I have seems great. Your desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. See children thrusting their hands into a narrow-necked jar, and striving to pull out the nuts and figs it contains: if they fill the hand, they cannot pull it out again, and then they fall to tears.—’Let go a few of them, and then you can draw out the rest!’—You, too, let your desire go! Covet not many things, and you will obtain.” –Epictetus, 55 – 135 AD
“Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.” –Plato, c. 427 BC – c. 347 BC
“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” –Marcus Aurelius, 121 – 180 AD
“How many things are there which I do not want.” –Socrates, c. 469 BC – 399 BC
“By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.” –Agesilaus, c. 444 BC – 360 BC
“Make thyself all simplicity.” –Marcus Aurelius, 121 – 180 AD
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This is fantastic. Good collection.
Glad you like it, Abhishek!
Great quotes.
One of my favorites: “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
Thanks, Brianne! Lao Tzu is my favorite philosopher. :-)
The same thing that makes us rich makes us poor. Your list is a wonderful example that money has always given people trouble. Thanks so much!
Hi Eric! It’s pretty illuminating to see how long we (as humans) have struggled with this issue, isn’t it?
Interesting about what you say about our current situation–Walmart, Malls, Vegas–it’s all there for us like never before, but these great men wrote about this stuff before the time of Christ.
I marvel the same way when I study nutrition. When all these new studies come, the sages of the past already had written about them.
One example that comes to mind is fiber. Dr Dennis Burkitt’s famous discovery about fiber was discussed by Dr Kellogg years before.
I know, Mike, it always amazes me how something written hundreds (or even thousands) of years ago can still be so relevant.
Ah, love great quotes and minimalism! ;)
I didn’t use that word, but we also did that when our child was a baby to a great extend. We never bought a stroller, crib, changing table, pacifier or much of the baby crapola that they like to make poor new parents think is essential.
Marketers look to ways to convince you to depart with your money & fool you into thinking it is a “need”.
Time is the greatest luxury & the only thing we can own. If you are not wasting it on buying & maintaining “stuff” then you can enjoy life and travel the world if you want……even as a family! ;)
Hi soultravelers3! It’s so refreshing to hear that one can raise a child without all the stuff usually deemed “necessary.” People keep telling me that my life will be decidedly less minimalist if/when we have kids; but you’re a wonderful example that it doesn’t have to be that way! :-)
great list and it’s good to know that some of our ancestors were just as ‘crazy’ as some of us are considered now. Maybe there is hope for us yet…
Finallygettingtoeven, let’s hope so!
I also enjoy reading quotes, particularly those of ancient scholars.
Thanks MM!
:-)
Hi jean! I like to mix up my musings on “stuff” with a bit of philosophy now and then. :-)
“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
– Socrates
Great one, Jason — thanks!
I’m an Orthodox Christian, and the group of very early monks in the Egyptian desert in the 4th & 5th centuries is a fantastically rich source of stories, including ones on possessing nothing. A favorite of mine since I love books (this is on my Kindle):
“‘Theodore, surnamed Pherme, had three good books. He went to Macarius, and said, “I have three good books, and I am helped by reading them. Other monks also want to read the, and they are helped by them. Tell me what to do.’ Macarius replied, ‘Reading books is good, but possessing nothing is more than anything.’ When he heard this, he went and sold the books, and gave the money to the poor.”
In other ancient Christian literature, having little or nothing was equated with having few cares, as you didn’t have to worry about your “stuff.”
That’s fascinating, Tradd! I’d love to learn more about minimalism in religious traditions; the similarities between these early Christian monks and Buddhists are very striking. Where can I read more about them?
A note on Diogenes of Sinope, that was his LAST possession, the bowl that he smashed upon seeing the boy drink from the cup of his hand! Excellent stuff! He did live in a wooden tub though, so that might count as a possession of sorts.
teh.sean, thank you so much for pointing this out! That context really puts the quote in perspective.
Seneca is my favorite: Friends, freedom and thought.
Agreed, Per! :-)
Like most philosophies, minimalism is based on both love and fear. Love of simplicity and the beauty of nature without human intervention. Fear of things taking over (materialism) and eventual depletion of nature’s bounty. It reminds me of the distinction between choiceful awareness and choiceless awareness. For me, Zen, which dissolves these differences is best, but i would impose it on no one. Each of us must make her/his choice. May all beings be well and happy.
Other religions, especially in their more liberal aspects, are also aware of this. It would be interesting to do what was done with the Greek philosophers for more modern cases to see this.
This is an amazing list of quotes!
A wonderful list of thoughts to ponder, so much truth.
I been reading your blog for a while. This is my first comment, loved the post and love your blog :)
Not too often I see another Rosa :)
All great quotes. i especially like the one below:
“The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.” –Marcus Aurelius
Thanks for sharing!
PAULA
love it
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
Confucius
Primitive cultures didn’t pollute as much as we do. They weren’t dependent on plastics and other petroleum products. Native Americans wasted almost nothing. Up until the industrial revolution manufactured goods were so expensive, no one wasted, things were reused and reused again.
Until about WWII, there were rag and bone men who collected rags to make paper and bones to make glue. People saved waste fats during WWII to make nitroglycerin. I can remember always collecting newspaper for various paper drives. My father used to talk about making toy soldiers out of lead when he was a boy. Who would let kids play with hot metal, especially lead these days?
I am wearing a sweatshirt which is at least 20 years old. I will probably wear it until it falls apart. I very seldom buy anything new and we use things over and over. My stainless steel utensils are 50 years old and my pots and pans also stainless steel or glass are also over 40 years old. I can think of more to pass on and so can my husband so we will fill another bag for Goodwill on Black Friday.
You can read Ecclesiastes on the folly of having too much. The middle ages were so bad because they crowded into towns and didn’t understand how diseases spread. The study of epidemiology didn’t begin until the London cholera epidemic in the 1840’s. And now the stupid people don’t want to vaccinate their children.