--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A clean basement, garage and attic are…" description: "\"A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty life.\" — Doug Larson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png" --- # A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty… ![“A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty life.” quote by Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png) > “A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty life.” [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clean storage spaces suggest a life lacking purpose or activity. **In simple terms:** A tidy home may reflect an empty, unfulfilling life. Key Takeaway Find meaning beyond material order. Themes minimalism purpose loneliness Mood reflective contemplative Type observational advice When to use this quote - retirement - empty nest - decluttering - mental health Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance cleanliness and purpose? - What activities give life meaning? A Different Perspective Order alone does not guarantee happiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empty life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empty-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Practical storage pieces are great if you have a basement or a garage. But when you actually live with them day in and day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-filicia/practical-storage-pieces-are-great-if-you-have-a-basement-or-a-garage/) [Thom Filicia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-filicia/) > [I travel in gardens and bedrooms, basements and attics, around corners, through doorways and windows, along sidewalks, over carpets, down drainpipes, in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-travel-in-gardens-and-bedrooms-basements-and-attics-around-corners/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When the cold comes to New England it arrives in sheets of sleet and ice. In December, the wind wraps itself around bare trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/when-the-cold-comes-to-new-england-it-arrives-in-sheets-of-sleet-and/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [I might be in the basement. I'll go upstairs and check.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/i-might-be-in-the-basement-i-ll-go-upstairs-and-check/) [M. C. Escher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-escher/) > [Every time I get in an elevator, the operator says the same thing to me: 'Basement?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/every-time-i-get-in-an-elevator-the-operator-says-the-same-thing-to/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [I don't decide where I live. My wife decides. She's a curator of contemporary art, and she works at an art museum, so we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-don-t-decide-where-i-live-my-wife-decides-she-s-a-curator-of/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [My dad was a bass player in a Latino band when I was growing up. So we always had musical instruments in our basement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindi-ortega/my-dad-was-a-bass-player-in-a-latino-band-when-i-was-growing-up-so-we/) [Lindi Ortega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindi-ortega/) > [Being Canadian and from Winnipeg, I have the spirit of a dreamer because of the cold, and being in the basement thinking of possibilities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-carter/being-canadian-and-from-winnipeg-i-have-the-spirit-of-a-dreamer/) [Sarah Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-carter/) > [Just like every kid who comes into show business on some level, I used to put shows on in my basement. I even started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-scardino/just-like-every-kid-who-comes-into-show-business-on-some-level-i-used/) Don Scardino > [My first time performing was in the black box theater of my high school's basement as a member of 'Clownaz,' the school's improv team.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-mande/my-first-time-performing-was-in-the-black-box-theater-of-my-high/) [Joe Mande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-mande/) > [White Zombie was a bunch of kids with the worst equipment playing in a basement. But that is what is so great about it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-zombie/white-zombie-was-a-bunch-of-kids-with-the-worst-equipment-playing-in/) [Rob Zombie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-zombie/) > [I might be in the basement. I'll go upstairs and check. We adore chaos because we love to produce order. I don't use drugs;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-c-escher/i-might-be-in-the-basement-i-ll-go-upstairs-and-check-we-adore-chaos/) [M. C. Escher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-c-escher/) > [All the green-screen stuff - all the special effects stuff - I shot right there in my house, in the basement in my theater…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-winans/all-the-green-screen-stuff-all-the-special-effects-stuff-i-shot-right/) Vickie Winans > [I love getting into the basement of a courthouse, and all the dusty records - all that stuff makes me really happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-cameron/i-love-getting-into-the-basement-of-a-courthouse-and-all-the-dusty/) [Sharon Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-cameron/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) ## More by Doug Larson > [A true friend is the one who overlooks your failures and tolerates your success!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-true-friend-is-the-one-who-overlooks-your-failures-and-tolerates/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Sometimes opportunity knocks, but most of the time it sneaks up and then quietly steals away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/sometimes-opportunity-knocks-but-most-of-the-time-it-sneaks-up-and/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-quality-that-keeps-you-from-getting-into-situations/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Heredity is a splendid phenomenon that relieves us of responsibility for our shortcomings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/heredity-is-a-splendid-phenomenon-that-relieves-us-of-responsibility/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/autumn-is-a-season-followed-immediately-by-looking-forward-to-spring/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Law of Airlines: The shorter the time between flights, the greater the distance between gates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/law-of-airlines-the-shorter-the-time-between-flights-the-greater-the/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Democracy is a system that gives people a chance to elect rascals of their own choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/democracy-is-a-system-that-gives-people-a-chance-to-elect-rascals-of/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Utility is when you have one telephone, luxury is when you have two, and paradise is when you have none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/utility-is-when-you-have-one-telephone-luxury-is-when-you-have-two/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/instead-of-giving-a-politician-the-keys-to-the-city-it-might-be/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Accomplishing the impossible means only the boss will add it to your regular duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/accomplishing-the-impossible-means-only-the-boss-will-add-it-to-your/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/if-the-english-language-made-any-sense-lackadaisical-would-have/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-weed-is-a-plant-that-has-mastered-every-survival-skill-except-for/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/wisdom-is-the-reward-you-get-for-a-lifetime-of-listening-when-you-d/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [Nostalgia: A device that removes the ruts and potholes from memory lane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/nostalgia-a-device-that-removes-the-ruts-and-potholes-from-memory-lane/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) [Explore all 75 Doug Larson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) ## More Attics quotes > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [I am imprinted with the whole sense of European history, especially German history, going back to World War I, which really destroyed all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisel-mueller/i-am-imprinted-with-the-whole-sense-of-european-history-especially/) [Lisel Mueller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisel-mueller/) > [There are children who will leave a game to go and be bored in a corner of the garret. How often have I wished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaston-bachelard/there-are-children-who-will-leave-a-game-to-go-and-be-bored-in-a/) [Gaston Bachelard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaston-bachelard/) > [I am a product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-a-product-of-long-corridors-empty-sunlit-rooms-upstairs-indoor/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Jabor finally appeared at the top of the stairs, sparks of flame radiating from his body and igniting the fabric of the house around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/jabor-finally-appeared-at-the-top-of-the-stairs-sparks-of-flame/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Garages, barns and attics are always older than the buildings to which they are attached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/garages-barns-and-attics-are-always-older-than-the-buildings-to-which/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [When the cold comes to New England it arrives in sheets of sleet and ice. In December, the wind wraps itself around bare trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/when-the-cold-comes-to-new-england-it-arrives-in-sheets-of-sleet-and/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [In other countries, art and literature are left to a lot of shabby bums living in attics and feeding on booze and spaghetti, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/in-other-countries-art-and-literature-are-left-to-a-lot-of-shabby/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [I always kinda liked our attic ghost. When I was a kid, I used to go up there and read stories to it. Show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-gray/i-always-kinda-liked-our-attic-ghost-when-i-was-a-kid-i-used-to-go-up/) [Claudia Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-gray/) > [I find myself wanting to make music at the dining room table or in the bedroom - I'm kind of a mobile writer, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/i-find-myself-wanting-to-make-music-at-the-dining-room-table-or-in/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [“The attics of the mind hold onto their dusty secrets and free them at inappropriate moments.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-croome/the-attics-of-the-mind-hold-onto-their-dusty-secrets-and-free-them-at/) [Judy Croome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-croome/) > [I was a daughterless mother. I had nowhere to put the things a mother places on her daughter. The nail polish I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-hood/i-was-a-daughterless-mother-i-had-nowhere-to-put-the-things-a-mother/) [Ann Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-hood/) > [Art opens the closets, airs out the cellars and attics. It brings healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-cameron/art-opens-the-closets-airs-out-the-cellars-and-attics-it-brings/) [Julia Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-cameron/) > [Robert Frost says in a piece of homely doggerel that he has hoped wisdom could be not only Attic but Laconic, Boeotian even -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-jarrell/robert-frost-says-in-a-piece-of-homely-doggerel-that-he-has-hoped/) [Randall Jarrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-jarrell/) Browse all 115 Attics quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty life.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Doug Larson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-signs-of-an-empty-life/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attics" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-signs-of-an-empty-life/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/384/doug-larson-9077_attics_a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-si_2051910.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A clean basement, garage and attic are signs of an empty life.” — Doug Larson", "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": "Doug Larson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A clean basement, garage and attic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-signs-of-an-empty-life/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/a-clean-basement-garage-and-attic-are-signs-of-an-empty-life/#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 } } ] } ```