One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always run to simplicity.
—Bruce Lee (1940–73) American Martial Artist, Actor, Philosopher
Simplicity is the seal of truth.
—Indian Proverb
The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters is simplicity: nothing is better than simplicity.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Very simple ideas lie within the reach only of complex minds.
—Remy de Gourmont (1858–1915) French Poet, Novelist, Critic
Life is not complex. We are complex. Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Simplicity is the glory of expression.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
When you are at sea, keep clear of the land.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Purity and simplicity are the two wings with which man soars above the earth and all temporary nature.—Simplicity is in the intention; purity in the affection: simplicity turns to God; purity unites with and enjoys him.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
I finally figured out the only reason to be alive is to enjoy it.
—Rita Mae Brown (b.1944) American Writer, Feminist
There is no greatness where simplicity, goodness and truth are absent.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
To poke a wood fire is more solid enjoyment than almost anything else in the world.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
The criterion of simplicity requires that the minimum number of assumptions be postulated.
—Albert Low (1928–2016) British-born Canadian Zen Master
The idea is to get the pencil moving quickly.
—Bernard Malamud (1914–86) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer
People love chopping wood. In this activity one immediately sees results.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Goodness and simplicity are indissolubly united.—The bad are the most sophisticated, all the world over, and the good the least.
—Harriet Martineau (1802–76) English Sociologist, Economist, Essayist, Philosopher
No matter how complicated a problem is, it usually can be reduced to a simple, comprehensible form which is often the best solution.
—An Wang (1920–90) Chinese-born American Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur
To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
The guiding motto in the life of every natural philosopher should be, Seek simplicity and distrust it
—Alfred North Whitehead (1861–1947) English Mathematician, Philosopher
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The trouble with measurement is its seeming simplicity.
—Unknown
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined! As you simplify your life, the laws of the Universe will be simpler, solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Simplicity has power. Founding our life on constructive, positive behavior is the simplest, most direct, and powerful approach I’ve ever found—simple, but not easy.
—Dan Millman (b.1946) American Children’s Books Writer, Sportsperson
What I do, I do very well, and what I don’t do well, I don’t do at all.
—Unknown
Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.
—Frederic Chopin (1810–49) Polish-French Composer, Pianist
The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Straightforwardness and simplicity are in keeping with goodness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
I go about looking at horses and cattle. They eat grass, make love, work when they have to, bear their young. I am sick with envy of them.
—Sherwood Anderson (1876–1941) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The obvious is that which is never seen until someone expresses it simply.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Simple style is like white light. It is complex, but its complexity is not obvious.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer