--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tidying in the end is just a physical…" description: "\"“Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg" --- # Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work… ![“Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something and deciding where to put it. If you can do these two things, you can achieve perfection.” quote by Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg) > ““Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something and deciding where to put it. If you can do these two things, you can achieve perfection.”” [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. Tidying requires two decisions: keep or discard, and where to store; mastering both leads to an orderly, satisfying space. **In simple terms:** Decide what to keep and where to store it. Key Takeaway Organize by choosing and placing items. Themes order simplicity well‑being Mood calm focused Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - home organization - office declutter - moving houses - seasonal cleaning Key Concepts minimalism decision‑making environmental psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide what truly adds value? - What storage system works best for you? A Different Perspective May overlook emotional attachment to objects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deciding Dispose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deciding-dispose-2438257/) [Dispose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispose/) [Dispose Deciding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispose-deciding-2438258/) [Tidying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tidying/) [Tidying End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tidying-end-2438256/) ## Related quotes > [Conscious thought is the tidying up at the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/conscious-thought-is-the-tidying-up-at-the-end/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [“Tidying is a way of taking stock that shows us what we really like. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/tidying-is-a-way-of-taking-stock-that-shows-us-what-we-really-like-the/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“After all, what is the point in tidying? If it’s not so that our space and the things in it can bring us happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/after-all-what-is-the-point-in-tidying-if-it-s-not-so-that-our-space/) [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/) > [“Deciding what to keep on the basis of what sparks joy in your heart is the most important step in tidying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/deciding-what-to-keep-on-the-basis-of-what-sparks-joy-in-your-heart/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [We no longer dare to believe in beauty and we make of it a mere appearance in order the more easily to dispose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/we-no-longer-dare-to-believe-in-beauty-and-we-make-of-it-a-mere/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is stressing you, the obstacle that is in your way. Then put it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing-that-is-stressing-you-the/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzae-pace/stress-is-the-trash-of-modern-life-we-all-generate-it-but-if-you-don/) [Danzae Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzae-pace/) > [Dispose of everything that was lost. There’s no time to dream about something that won’t come back. I must look forward. Forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/dispose-of-everything-that-was-lost-there-s-no-time-to-dream-about/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [“7 things negative people will do to you. They will... 1. Demean your value; 2. Destroy your image 3. Drive you crazily! 4. Dispose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/7-things-negative-people-will-do-to-you-they-will-1-demean-your-value/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you Despise of the book dont Dispose of the book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-joina/if-you-despise-of-the-book-dont-dispose-of-the-book/) [Kimberly Joina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-joina/) > [The day we dispose of the idea of disposability will be a great one for the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/the-day-we-dispose-of-the-idea-of-disposability-will-be-a-great-one/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [A power to dispose of estates for ever is manifestly absurd. The earth and the fulness of it belongs to every generation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-power-to-dispose-of-estates-for-ever-is-manifestly-absurd-the-earth/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A newspaperman said, 'You have to have a team in New York.' I replied, 'Who says you have to have a team in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/a-newspaperman-said-you-have-to-have-a-team-in-new-york-i-replied-who/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [How do you know I didn't bring you out here to dispose of you in private?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/how-do-you-know-i-didn-t-bring-you-out-here-to-dispose-of-you-in/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) ## 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 Dispose quotes > [On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is stressing you, the obstacle that is in your way. Then put it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing-that-is-stressing-you-the/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Dispose of everything that was lost. There’s no time to dream about something that won’t come back. I must look forward. Forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/dispose-of-everything-that-was-lost-there-s-no-time-to-dream-about/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [We no longer dare to believe in beauty and we make of it a mere appearance in order the more easily to dispose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/we-no-longer-dare-to-believe-in-beauty-and-we-make-of-it-a-mere/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [A newspaperman said, 'You have to have a team in New York.' I replied, 'Who says you have to have a team in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/a-newspaperman-said-you-have-to-have-a-team-in-new-york-i-replied-who/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [A power to dispose of estates for ever is manifestly absurd. The earth and the fulness of it belongs to every generation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-power-to-dispose-of-estates-for-ever-is-manifestly-absurd-the-earth/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [How do you know I didn't bring you out here to dispose of you in private?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/how-do-you-know-i-didn-t-bring-you-out-here-to-dispose-of-you-in/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) > [The day we dispose of the idea of disposability will be a great one for the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/the-day-we-dispose-of-the-idea-of-disposability-will-be-a-great-one/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [If you Despise of the book dont Dispose of the book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-joina/if-you-despise-of-the-book-dont-dispose-of-the-book/) [Kimberly Joina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-joina/) > [“7 things negative people will do to you. They will... 1. Demean your value; 2. Destroy your image 3. Drive you crazily! 4. Dispose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/7-things-negative-people-will-do-to-you-they-will-1-demean-your-value/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzae-pace/stress-is-the-trash-of-modern-life-we-all-generate-it-but-if-you-don/) [Danzae Pace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danzae-pace/) > [Dispose of everything that was lost. Theres no time to dream about something that wont come back. I must look forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/dispose-of-everything-that-was-lost-theres-no-time-to-dream-about/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [Had I but any time to lose, On this I would it all dispose. Cease Tempter. None can chain a mind Whom this sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/had-i-but-any-time-to-lose-on-this-i-would-it-all-dispose-cease/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-chopin/i-am-no-longer-one-of-mr-pontellier-s-possessions-to-dispose-of-or-not/) [Kate Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-chopin/) > [“Promise me...that you'll...\*cough\*...you'll dispose of my body in the waste receptacles...conveniently located by the theater exits...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-burlew/promise-me-that-you-ll-cough-you-ll-dispose-of-my-body-in-the-waste/) [Rich Burlew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-burlew/) > [And if you have no past or future which, after all, is all that the present is made of, why then you may as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/and-if-you-have-no-past-or-future-which-after-all-is-all-that-the/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) [Browse all 27 Dispose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispose/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding whether or not to dispose of something and deciding where to put it. If you can do these two things, you can achieve perfection.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marie Kondō" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-act-the-work-involved-can-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dispose" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-act-the-work-involved-can-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f1/marie-kondo-8259_quote_tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-ac_1852195.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Tidying in the end is just a physical act. The work involved can be broadly divided into two kinds: deciding…” — Marie Kondō", "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": "Marie Kondō", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Tidying in the end is just...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-act-the-work-involved-can-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/tidying-in-the-end-is-just-a-physical-act-the-work-involved-can-be/#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 } } ] } ```