--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Living simply is not about living in…" description: "\"Living simply is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. It's about living an examined life where one has determined what is truly i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/duane-elgin-19389_deprivation_living-simply-is-not-about-living-in-pov_823763.jpg" --- # Living simply is not about living in poverty or… ![“Living simply is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. It's about living an examined life where one has determined what is truly important and enough … and then just let go of all the rest.” quote by Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/duane-elgin-19389_deprivation_living-simply-is-not-about-living-in-pov_823763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/duane-elgin-19389_deprivation_living-simply-is-not-about-living-in-pov_823763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f89/duane-elgin-19389_deprivation_living-simply-is-not-about-living-in-pov_823763.jpg) > “Living simply is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. It's about living an examined life where one has determined what is truly important and enough … and then just let go of all the rest.” [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Simple living means examining values, keeping what truly matters, and releasing excess. **In simple terms:** Live simply by focusing on essentials. Key Takeaway Identify and let go of nonessential items. Themes simplicity values mindfulness self‑knowledge Mood calm thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - decluttering - budgeting - stress reduction Key Concepts minimalism philosophy self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What truly matters to you? - How can you practice letting go? A Different Perspective Simplicity may be misinterpreted as poverty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deprivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) [Deprivation Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation-living-495396/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Just let go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-let-go/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living Examined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-examined-495397/) [Living In Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-in-poverty/) [Living Simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-simply-455518/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Poverty Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty-self-495398/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Simply Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simply-living-495395/) ## Related quotes > [This lifestyle is not about deprivation. It's about living inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/this-lifestyle-is-not-about-deprivation-it-s-about-living-inspired/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Too many commercials, too many lies Too many celebrities I don't recognize Too many brand names, too many magazines I got so much sensation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-small/too-many-commercials-too-many-lies-too-many-celebrities-i-don-t-2/) [Fred Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-small/) > [Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is richness of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/loneliness-is-the-poverty-of-self-solitude-is-richness-of-self/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Anxiety is simply living out the future before it gets here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/anxiety-is-simply-living-out-the-future-before-it-gets-here/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The main cause of poverty is self-inflicted fear and ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/the-main-cause-of-poverty-is-self-inflicted-fear-and-ignorance/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [Loneliness is the poverty of self; solitude is the richness of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/loneliness-is-the-poverty-of-self-solitude-is-the-richness-of-self/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [“Living life without hardships is simply not living at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-imholte/living-life-without-hardships-is-simply-not-living-at-all/) [Chris Imholte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-imholte/) > [Living simply makes loving simple.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/living-simply-makes-loving-simple/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [“It is just as important for us to de-clutter our lives as it is to de-clutter our minds. Living Zen is the epitome of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-tuhovsky/it-is-just-as-important-for-us-to-de-clutter-our-lives-as-it-is-to-de/) [Ian Tuhovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-tuhovsky/) > [I feel that my environment reflects my belief in the grace and art and elegance of living simply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-feel-that-my-environment-reflects-my-belief-in-the-grace-and-art/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [The art of living is simply getting up after you've been knocked down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-art-of-living-is-simply-getting-up-after-you-ve-been-knocked-down/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Living simply means concentrating on what's important in light of eternity. And not taking the rest of life too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-chapman/living-simply-means-concentrating-on-what-s-important-in-light-of/) [Annie Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-chapman/) > [We are determined not to take as the aim of our life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure, nor to accumulate wealth while millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-are-determined-not-to-take-as-the-aim-of-our-life-fame-profit/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“A life without living was simply a death without dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ais/a-life-without-living-was-simply-a-death-without-dying/) [Ais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ais/) > [“... to live and to die . Can living just for the sake of living, without having any objectives, be categorized as truely living?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-kawashima/to-live-and-to-die-can-living-just-for-the-sake-of-living-without/) [Tadashi Kawashima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-kawashima/) ## More by Duane Elgin > [Simplicity of living, if deliberately chosen, implies a compassionate approach to life. It means that we are choosing to live our daily lives with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/simplicity-of-living-if-deliberately-chosen-implies-a-compassionate/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [It seems to me that inner growth is the whole moving force behind voluntary simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/it-seems-to-me-that-inner-growth-is-the-whole-moving-force-behind/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [Poverty is mean and degrading to the human spirit, whereas a life of conscious simplicity can have both a beauty and a functional integrity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/poverty-is-mean-and-degrading-to-the-human-spirit-whereas-a-life-of/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [Simplicity means to feel such a sense of kinship with others that we choose to live simply so that others may simply live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/simplicity-means-to-feel-such-a-sense-of-kinship-with-others-that-we/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [An elegant simplicity is an understated, organic aesthetic that contrasts with the excess of consumerist lifestyles. Drawing from influences ranging from Zen to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/an-elegant-simplicity-is-an-understated-organic-aesthetic-that/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [“To live sustainably, we must live efficiently - not misdirecting or squandering the earth's precious resources. To live efficiently, we must live peacefully for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/to-live-sustainably-we-must-live-efficiently-not-misdirecting-or/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [The character of a whole society is the cumulative result of countless small actions, day in and day out, of millions of persons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/the-character-of-a-whole-society-is-the-cumulative-result-of/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [Our life is frittered away by detail Simplify, simplify.” Or, as Plato wrote, “In order to seek one’s own direction, one must simplify the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/our-life-is-frittered-away-by-detail-simplify-simplify-or-as-plato/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [Simplicity of living means meeting life face to face. It means confronting life clearly, without unnecessary distractions. It means being direct and honest in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/simplicity-of-living-means-meeting-life-face-to-face-it-means/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [Voluntary simplicity has more to do with the state of mind than a person's physical surroundings and possessions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/voluntary-simplicity-has-more-to-do-with-the-state-of-mind-than-a/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [To live more simply is to unburden our lives - to live more lightly, cleanly, aerodynamically. It is to establish a more direct, unpretentious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/to-live-more-simply-is-to-unburden-our-lives-to-live-more-lightly/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [I consciously started to live simply when I started to become conscious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/i-consciously-started-to-live-simply-when-i-started-to-become/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [We live almost completely immersed in a socially constructed reality that so fully absorbs our energy and attention that virtually none remains to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/we-live-almost-completely-immersed-in-a-socially-constructed-reality/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [When a person's primary objective is to maximize material pleasures while minimizing discomforts, then life becomes a constant process of "pushing" (trying to push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/when-a-person-s-primary-objective-is-to-maximize-material-pleasures/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) > [The essence of voluntary simplicity is living in a way what is outwardly simple and inwardly rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-elgin/the-essence-of-voluntary-simplicity-is-living-in-a-way-what-is/) [Duane Elgin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) [Explore all 32 Duane Elgin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-elgin/) ## More Deprivation quotes > [Deprivation is for me what daffodils were for Wordsworth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-larkin/deprivation-is-for-me-what-daffodils-were-for-wordsworth/) [Philip Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-larkin/) > [“SOME OF THE HARDEST parts of parenting never change—like sleep deprivation, which, according to researchers at Queen’s University in Ontario, can in some respects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-senior/some-of-the-hardest-parts-of-parenting-never-change-like-sleep/) [Jennifer Senior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-senior/) > [“We have created a manic world nauseous with the pursuit of material wealth. Many also bear their cross of imagined deprivation, while their fellow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/we-have-created-a-manic-world-nauseous-with-the-pursuit-of-material/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Capitalism has created a situation called scarcity. And that scarcity is not natural, it's socially induced. Along with that sense of scarcity, or feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/capitalism-has-created-a-situation-called-scarcity-and-that-scarcity/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [It should surprise no one that the life of the writer - such as it is - is colorless to the point of sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/it-should-surprise-no-one-that-the-life-of-the-writer-such-as-it-is/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [My mother suffers mental health problems and has a learning deprivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rayner/my-mother-suffers-mental-health-problems-and-has-a-learning/) [Angela Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rayner/) > [What government has been doing, we've got major programmes now, of billions of pounds, which are directed by central government into these areas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-prescott/what-government-has-been-doing-we-ve-got-major-programmes-now-of/) [John Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-prescott/) > [“Suicide is nothing, but an act of depriving the soul from it's very right to liberation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aniruddha-sastikar/suicide-is-nothing-but-an-act-of-depriving-the-soul-from-it-s-very/) [Aniruddha Sastikar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aniruddha-sastikar/) > [Many low-income children face chronic stress from nutritional deprivation or persistent violence at home or in the community. By addressing their medical, emotional and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/many-low-income-children-face-chronic-stress-from-nutritional/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Inactivity and deprivation of all accustomed stimulus is not rest; it is a preparation for the tomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/inactivity-and-deprivation-of-all-accustomed-stimulus-is-not-rest-it/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [As soon as you lay down, that's when the most bizarre things start coming out of her mouth. 'Goodnight, baby.' 'Do you think we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ferrara/as-soon-as-you-lay-down-that-s-when-the-most-bizarre-things-start/) [Adam Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ferrara/) > [State governments seek local remedies for the globally fabricated deprivations and miseries in vain - just as the individuals-by-the-decree-of-fate (read: by the impact of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/state-governments-seek-local-remedies-for-the-globally-fabricated/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Discrimination and multiple deprivations of human rights are also frequently part of the problem, sentencing entire populations to poverty... It is surely a matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/navi-pillay/discrimination-and-multiple-deprivations-of-human-rights-are-also/) [Navi Pillay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/navi-pillay/) > [This lifestyle is not about deprivation. It's about living inspired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/this-lifestyle-is-not-about-deprivation-it-s-about-living-inspired/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [Strong convictions are the secret of surviving deprivation; your spirit can be full even when your stomach is empty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/strong-convictions-are-the-secret-of-surviving-deprivation-your/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) [Browse all 258 Deprivation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Living simply is not about living in poverty or self-inflicted deprivation. 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