--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thrift is the really romantic thing…" description: "\"Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_creative_thrift-is-the-really-romantic-thing-econ_2227609.png" --- # Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more… ![“Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste... if a man could undertake to make use of all the things in his dustbin, he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare.” quote by Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_creative_thrift-is-the-really-romantic-thing-econ_2227609.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_creative_thrift-is-the-really-romantic-thing-econ_2227609.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da7/gilbert-k-chesterton-223_creative_thrift-is-the-really-romantic-thing-econ_2227609.png) > “Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste... if a man could undertake to make use of all the things in his dustbin, he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare.” [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thrift is an artistic, creative act that transforms waste into value, surpassing even great literary genius. **In simple terms:** Thrift is creative and valuable. Key Takeaway Embrace resourceful living. Themes economics creativity environment humor literature Mood thoughtful humorous Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - home budgeting - upcycling - design - entrepreneurship - environmental activism Key Concepts sustainable living creative reuse economics of scarcity Questions to Reflect On - What can you repurpose today? - How does creativity enhance frugality? A Different Perspective Thrift may be limited by systemic waste production. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Dustbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dustbin/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Extravagance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/extravagance/) [Genius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genius/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic/) [Really romantic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-romantic/) [Thrift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrift/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) ## Related quotes > [“Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... But the thing is true; economy, properly understood, is the more poetic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/thrift-is-the-really-romantic-thing-economy-is-more-romantic-than/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [We owe something to extravagance, for thrift and adventure seldom go hand in hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-randolph-churchill/we-owe-something-to-extravagance-for-thrift-and-adventure-seldom-go/) [Lady Randolph Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-randolph-churchill/) > [“Thrift is poetic because it is creative.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/thrift-is-poetic-because-it-is-creative/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thrift-is-poetic-because-it-is-creative-waste-is-unpoetic-because-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I seem to be drawn to the really romantic songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vonda-shepard/i-seem-to-be-drawn-to-the-really-romantic-songs/) [Vonda Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vonda-shepard/) > [I'm really a romantic at heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-atkins/i-m-really-a-romantic-at-heart/) [Christopher Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-atkins/) > [Being in the studio is a really romantic time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-krauss/being-in-the-studio-is-a-really-romantic-time/) [Alison Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-krauss/) > [I wanted to be a poet. 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It was really romantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/i-had-my-baby-outside-in-a-thunderstorm-it-was-really-romantic/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [The idea of being a novelist is really romantic, but it's kind of the same as being president of the United States - it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/the-idea-of-being-a-novelist-is-really-romantic-but-it-s-kind-of-the/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [I've always really been a romantic at heart, and I have always wanted kids, and I think the idea of sharing your life with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-lewinsky/i-ve-always-really-been-a-romantic-at-heart-and-i-have-always-wanted/) [Monica Lewinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-lewinsky/) ## More by Gilbert K. Chesterton > [The aim of good prose words is to mean what they say. The aim of good poetical words is to mean what they do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-aim-of-good-prose-words-is-to-mean-what-they-say-the-aim-of-good/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Youth is always too serious, and just now it is too serious about frivolity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/youth-is-always-too-serious-and-just-now-it-is-too-serious-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Tradition does not mean a dead town; it does not mean that the living are dead but that the dead are alive. It means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/tradition-does-not-mean-a-dead-town-it-does-not-mean-that-the-living/) [Gilbert K. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The triangle of truisms, of father, mother and child, cannot be destroyed; it can only destroy those civilizations which disregard it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-triangle-of-truisms-of-father-mother-and-child-cannot-be/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Criticism is only words about words, and of what use are words about such words as these?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/criticism-is-only-words-about-words-and-of-what-use-are-words-about/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [What we suffer from today is humility in the wrong place...The old humility was a spur that prevented a man from stopping; not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/what-we-suffer-from-today-is-humility-in-the-wrong-place-the-old/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Plato was only a Bernard Shaw who unfortunately made his jokes in Greek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/plato-was-only-a-bernard-shaw-who-unfortunately-made-his-jokes-in/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [The word good has many meanings...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-word-good-has-many-meanings/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Music with dinner is an insult both to the cook and the violinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/music-with-dinner-is-an-insult-both-to-the-cook-and-the-violinist/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Eugenics asserts that all men must be so stupid that they cannot manage their own affairs; and also so clever that they can manage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/eugenics-asserts-that-all-men-must-be-so-stupid-that-they-cannot/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Explore all 868 Gilbert K. Chesterton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) ## More Creative quotes > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) > [When you're being truly creative, time stands still, and you enter a dimension that can carry you beyond the ordinariness of everyday life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-linn/when-you-re-being-truly-creative-time-stands-still-and-you-enter-a/) [Denise Linn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-linn/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Money is only used for two things. One, it's to make you comfortable, and the more comfortable you are the more creative you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/money-is-only-used-for-two-things-one-it-s-to-make-you-comfortable/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Beware of self-indulgence. The romance surrounding the writing profession carries several myths: that one must suffer in order to be creative; that one must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/beware-of-self-indulgence-the-romance-surrounding-the-writing/) [David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/) > [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. 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All intelligent people see this after the fact, but only the creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-creation-lives-as-genesis-beneath-the-visible-surface-of-the-work/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) [Browse all 7,284 Creative quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Thrift is the really romantic thing; economy is more romantic than extravagance... thrift is poetic because it is creative; waste is unpoetic because it is waste... if a man could undertake to make use of all the things in his dustbin, he would be a broader genius than Shakespeare.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gilbert K. 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