9 Stoic Quotes on Simplicity & Minimalism

  • Philosophy calls for simple living, not for doing penance, and the simple way of life need not be a crude one.

    — Seneca, Moral Letters 5.5

  • If you seek tranquillity, do less. Or (more accurately) do what’s essential—what the logos of a social being requires, and in the requisite way. Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, “Is this necessary?” But we need to eliminate unnecessary assumptions as well. To eliminate the unnecessary actions that follow.

    — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.24

  • You ask what is the proper limit to a person's wealth? First, having what is essential, and second, having what is enough.

    — Seneca, Moral Letters 2.6

  • Until we have begun to go without them, we fail to realize how unnecessary many things are. We've been using them not because we needed them but because we had them.

    — Seneca, Moral Letters 123.6

  • It is the quality of a great soul to scorn great things and to prefer that which is ordinary rather than that which is too great.

    — Seneca, Moral Letters 39.4

  • The body’s needs are few: it wants to be free from cold, to banish hunger and thirst with nourishment; if we long for anything more we are exerting ourselves to serve our vices, not our needs.

    — Seneca, Consolation to Helvia 10.11

  • Very little is needed to make a happy life.

    — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 7.67

  • Spurn everything that is added by way of decoration and display by unneccesary labour. Relect that nothing merits admiration except the spirit, the impressiveness of which prevents it from being impressed by anything.

    — Seneca, Moral Letters 8.5

  • We do not feel the lack of many things unless we wish to live luxuriously.

    — Musonius Rufus, Discourses 9