--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have trouble discarding things…" description: "\"“People have trouble discarding things that they could still use (functional value), that contain helpful information (informational value), and that h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/marie-kondo-8259_emotional-value_people-have-trouble-discarding-things-th_2646368.jpg" --- # People have trouble discarding things that they could… ![“People have trouble discarding things that they could still use (functional value), that contain helpful information (informational value), and that have sentimental ties (emotional value). When these things are hard to obtain or replace (rarity), they become even harder to part with. The” quote by Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/marie-kondo-8259_emotional-value_people-have-trouble-discarding-things-th_2646368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/marie-kondo-8259_emotional-value_people-have-trouble-discarding-things-th_2646368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f10/marie-kondo-8259_emotional-value_people-have-trouble-discarding-things-th_2646368.jpg) > ““People have trouble discarding things that they could still use (functional value), that contain helpful information (informational value), and that have sentimental ties (emotional value). When these things are hard to obtain or replace (rarity), they become even harder to part with. The”” [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cling to items because they serve functional, informational, or emotional needs, especially when they’re scarce. **In simple terms:** We hold onto things for usefulness or sentiment. Key Takeaway Let go of items that no longer serve you. Themes attachment minimalism value assessment Mood motivational practical Type self‑help inspirational When to use this quote - decluttering - home organization - digital cleanup Key Concepts psychology consumer behavior Questions to Reflect On - What item could you release today? - How does scarcity affect your attachment? A Different Perspective Letting go can feel like loss, not just gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarding-862138/) [Discarding Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discarding-things-2313091/) [Emotional Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-value-518694/) [Trouble Discarding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble-discarding-2313090/) [Value Sentimental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value-sentimental-2313089/) ## Related quotes > [Loving a thing is shallow, only if you don't deeply appreciate its emotional value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-estelle-frankel/loving-a-thing-is-shallow-only-if-you-don-t-deeply-appreciate-its/) [Valerie Estelle Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-estelle-frankel/) > [“Physical injury carries with it the fallout of mental injury, the damage never being equal to the traumatic event. E does not equal MC2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-r-herrera/physical-injury-carries-with-it-the-fallout-of-mental-injury-the/) [Carla R. Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-r-herrera/) > [Being sorry is the highest act of selfishness, seeing value only after discarding it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/being-sorry-is-the-highest-act-of-selfishness-seeing-value-only-after/) [Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/) > [If the whole process of learning from failure means discarding stuff that's not working, but in fact, our natural reaction is to keep going,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-harford/if-the-whole-process-of-learning-from-failure-means-discarding-stuff/) [Tim Harford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-harford/) > [ There are many ways of discarding \[books\]. You can give them to friends,--or enemies,--or to associations or to poor Southern libraries. But the surest… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-wells/there-are-many-ways-of-discarding-books-you-can-give-them-to-friends/) [Carolyn Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-wells/) > [“Danshari, the art of de-cluttering, discarding, and parting with your possessions 2.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-sasaki/danshari-the-art-of-de-cluttering-discarding-and-parting-with-your/) [Fumio Sasaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-sasaki/) > [Awakening is not changing who you are, but discarding who you are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/awakening-is-not-changing-who-you-are-but-discarding-who-you-are-not/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Have gratitude for the things you're discarding. By giving gratitude, you're giving closure to the relationship with that object, and by doing so, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/have-gratitude-for-the-things-you-re-discarding-by-giving-gratitude/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Portia Mann frowned at me. “Have you and my son broken up again? When I told him he should be the one doing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinnean/portia-mann-frowned-at-me-have-you-and-my-son-broken-up-again-when-i/) [Tinnean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinnean/) ## More by Marie Kondō > [I had been so focused on what to discard, on attacking the unwanted obstacles around me, that I had forgotten to cherish the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-been-so-focused-on-what-to-discard-on-attacking-the-unwanted/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“If you tidy your house all at once, you’ll rebound. It’s better to make it a habit to do a little at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/if-you-tidy-your-house-all-at-once-you-ll-rebound-it-s-better-to-make/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Being packed all the time, even when not in use, must feel something like going to bed on an empty stomach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/being-packed-all-the-time-even-when-not-in-use-must-feel-something/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I'd like to tidy up the entire planet. I would go anywhere if there were something that needs tidying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-d-like-to-tidy-up-the-entire-planet-i-would-go-anywhere-if-there/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By handling each sentimental item and deciding what to discard, you process your past. If you just stow these things away in a drawer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-handling-each-sentimental-item-and-deciding-what-to-discard-you/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now. Not for the person we were in the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-space-in-which-we-live-should-be-for-the-person-we-are-becoming/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I recommend tidying by category, not by place. For example, instead of deciding that today you'll tidy a particular room, set goals such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-recommend-tidying-by-category-not-by-place-for-example-instead-of/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“By acknowledging their contribution and letting them go with gratitude, you will be able to truly put the things you own, and your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/by-acknowledging-their-contribution-and-letting-them-go-with/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/keep-only-those-things-that-speak-to-your-heart-then-take-the-plunge/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“people who use the KonMari Method never revert to clutter again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/people-who-use-the-konmari-method-never-revert-to-clutter-again/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Treat your socks and stockings with respect”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/treat-your-socks-and-stockings-with-respect/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left with only the amount that fits perfectly in the space you own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/once-you-learn-to-choose-your-belongings-properly-you-will-be-left/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“Sorting papers Rule of thumb—discard everything Once”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/sorting-papers-rule-of-thumb-discard-everything-once/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [I had a slight hope the phrase 'spark joy' might become popular, as it was the keyword that I wanted to put forward in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-had-a-slight-hope-the-phrase-spark-joy-might-become-popular-as-it/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“The recent trend in Japan is to utilize time in the early morning to take seminars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/the-recent-trend-in-japan-is-to-utilize-time-in-the-early-morning-to/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) [Explore all 75 Marie Kondō quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) ## More Emotional Value quotes > [Loving a thing is shallow, only if you don't deeply appreciate its emotional value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-estelle-frankel/loving-a-thing-is-shallow-only-if-you-don-t-deeply-appreciate-its/) [Valerie Estelle Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-estelle-frankel/) > [“Physical injury carries with it the fallout of mental injury, the damage never being equal to the traumatic event. E does not equal MC2…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-r-herrera/physical-injury-carries-with-it-the-fallout-of-mental-injury-the/) [Carla R. Herrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-r-herrera/) [Browse all 3 Emotional Value quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-value-518694/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“People have trouble discarding things that they could still use (functional value), that contain helpful information (informational value), and that have sentimental ties (emotional value). When these things are hard to obtain or replace (rarity), they become even harder to part with. 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