--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew then that the fewer items I was…" description: "\"“I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting, packing, moving, and lugging around in life would free up my energy and time to create...”\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg" --- # I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting… ![“I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting, packing, moving, and lugging around in life would free up my energy and time to create...” quote by Dorothy Breininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg) > ““I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting, packing, moving, and lugging around in life would free up my energy and time to create...”” Dorothy Breininger ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acquiring fewer possessions frees energy and time for creative pursuits and personal growth. **In simple terms:** Less stuff, more freedom. Key Takeaway Simplify to boost creativity. Themes minimalism creativity energy simplification freedom Mood motivational practical Type self‑help advice inspirational When to use this quote - moving house - decluttering projects - creative workshops Key Concepts resource allocation psychology of clutter productivity Questions to Reflect On - What can you let go of? - How does space affect imagination? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification can limit necessary tools. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Dusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dusting/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Hoarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoarding/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Simplifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplifying/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [The earth doesn't have a housekeeper to do the dusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-earth-doesn-t-have-a-housekeeper-to-do-the-dusting/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [“Thank you for undusting my true colors; or color: black... Oh, how I missed the darkness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ahmed-mostafa/thank-you-for-undusting-my-true-colors-or-color-black-oh-how-i-missed/) [Ahmed Mostafa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ahmed-mostafa/) > [“One of the first requisites of a tea-master is the knowledge of how to sweep, clean, and wash, for there is an art in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kakuz-okakura/one-of-the-first-requisites-of-a-tea-master-is-the-knowledge-of-how/) [Kakuzo Okakura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kakuz-okakura/) > [“But never in his saddest dreams had he thought he'd spend his last years dusting this enormous old house for no one at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-dane-bauer/but-never-in-his-saddest-dreams-had-he-thought-he-d-spend-his-last/) [Marion Dane Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-dane-bauer/) > [“How come when you wipe up dust it’s called dusting but when you wipe up a spill it’s not called spilling? There’s something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/how-come-when-you-wipe-up-dust-it-s-called-dusting-but-when-you-wipe/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [The earth doesn't have a housekeeper to do the dusting. And the dust that falls on it every day remains there. Everything that's come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/the-earth-doesn-t-have-a-housekeeper-to-do-the-dusting-and-the-dust/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [Dusting is a good example of the futility of trying to put things right. As soon as you dust, the fact of your next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/dusting-is-a-good-example-of-the-futility-of-trying-to-put-things/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [“.. Dusting off your books means dusting your mind off.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasser-kashef/dusting-off-your-books-means-dusting-your-mind-off/) [Yasser Kashef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasser-kashef/) > [The Holy Bible World-Wide accumulates the most dust out of any item/It's time to start dusting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-dash/the-holy-bible-world-wide-accumulates-the-most-dust-out-of-any-item/) C-DASH > [“Friends who mock your dreams are not qualified to keep dusting your door step with their footprints every time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/friends-who-mock-your-dreams-are-not-qualified-to-keep-dusting-your/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Heaven doesn't need dusting. The only tidying that remains is to continue growing in goodness, and goodness knows, for most of us there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-hart/heaven-doesn-t-need-dusting-the-only-tidying-that-remains-is-to/) [Carolyn Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-hart/) > [Why is it that when you wipe up dust its called dusting but when you wipe up a spill its not called spilling? Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/why-is-it-that-when-you-wipe-up-dust-its-called-dusting-but-when-you/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [“Today, I'm drawn to repurposing for so many reasons: It allows me to live a more financially pared-down and simple life in which it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-blake-soule/today-i-m-drawn-to-repurposing-for-so-many-reasons-it-allows-me-to/) Amanda Blake Soule > [You come by your style by learning what to leave out. At first you tend to overwrite—embellishment instead of insight. You either continue to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/you-come-by-your-style-by-learning-what-to-leave-out-at-first-you/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“Simplifying your life is about simplifying yourself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamerlan-kuzgov/simplifying-your-life-is-about-simplifying-yourself/) [Tamerlan Kuzgov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamerlan-kuzgov/) ## More Clutter quotes > [It's always something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilda-radner/it-s-always-something/) [Gilda Radner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilda-radner/) > [I hate clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-barrie/i-hate-clutter/) [Barbara Barrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-barrie/) > [If one's mind is so full of clutter, so is one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnreyes/if-one-s-mind-is-so-full-of-clutter-so-is-one-s-life/) [JOHNREYES](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnreyes/) > [“Only when we acknowledge ourselves as we really are can we begin to take inventory of the physical, mental, and emotional clutter that no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiqua-hamdan/only-when-we-acknowledge-ourselves-as-we-really-are-can-we-begin-to/) [Sadiqua Hamdan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiqua-hamdan/) > [I think we all have a little voice inside us that will guide us. It may be God, I don't know. But I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/i-think-we-all-have-a-little-voice-inside-us-that-will-guide-us-it/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity... out of discord, harmony... and out of difficulty, opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-leader-is-one-who-out-of-the-clutter-brings-simplicity-out-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Simple messages travel faster, simpler designs reach the market faster and the elimination of clutter allows faster decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/simple-messages-travel-faster-simpler-designs-reach-the-market-faster/) [Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/) > [Clutter is the official language used by corporations to hide their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-official-language-used-by-corporations-to-hide-their/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [If you've had something for more than six months, and it's still not repaired, it's clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/if-you-ve-had-something-for-more-than-six-months-and-it-s-still-not/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [Here's the general theory: To clarify, add detail. Imagine that. To clarify, add detail. And clutter and overload are not an attribute of information,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-tufte/here-s-the-general-theory-to-clarify-add-detail-imagine-that-to/) [Edward Tufte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-tufte/) > [The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That's not simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-ive/the-absence-of-clutter-is-just-a-clutter-free-product-that-s-not/) [Jonathan Ive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-ive/) > [Out of clutter, find simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/out-of-clutter-find-simplicity/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Never underestimate the effect of clutter on your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingston/never-underestimate-the-effect-of-clutter-on-your-life/) [Karen Kingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingston/) > [Clutter is the disease of American writing,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-zinsser/clutter-is-the-disease-of-american-writing/) [William Zinsser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-zinsser/) > [On the whole, I think women wear too much and are to fussy. You can't see the person for all the clutter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-andrews/on-the-whole-i-think-women-wear-too-much-and-are-to-fussy-you-can-t/) [Julie Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-andrews/) [Browse all 347 Clutter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clutter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting, packing, moving, and lugging around in life would free up my energy and time to create...”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dorothy Breininger" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-breininger/i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-acquiring-dusting-packing/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clutter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-breininger/i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-acquiring-dusting-packing/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/dorothy-breininger-233565_clutter_i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-a_179217.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I knew then that the fewer items I was acquiring, dusting, packing, moving, and lugging around in life would…” — Dorothy Breininger", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dorothy Breininger", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-breininger/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I knew then that the fewer...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-breininger/i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-acquiring-dusting-packing/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-breininger/i-knew-then-that-the-fewer-items-i-was-acquiring-dusting-packing/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```