---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's pointless to have a nice clean desk…"
description: "\"It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you're not doing anything.\" — Michio Kaku"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png"
---

#  It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means…

![“It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you're not doing anything.” quote by Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png)

> “It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you're not doing anything.”

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A tidy desk suggests inactivity, implying that productivity comes from visible mess rather than cleanliness.

**In simple terms:** Clean desk may signal no work.

Key Takeaway

Embrace organized spaces without fearing they imply idleness.

Themes

productivity perception environment

Mood

reflective neutral

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- office work
- creative studios
- home offices
- study spaces

Key Concepts

psychology efficiency

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you equate cleanliness with lack of activity?
- How might a tidy space improve your workflow?

A Different Perspective

A clean environment can boost focus and reduce stress.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clean desk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clean-desk/)

## Related quotes

> [Don't clean your desk. You might find something in the morning that you can't see tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-mau/don-t-clean-your-desk-you-might-find-something-in-the-morning-that/)

[Bruce Mau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-mau/)

> [A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/a-clean-desk-is-a-sign-of-a-cluttered-desk-drawer/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [Never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether. A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer. All you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/never-put-off-until-tomorrow-what-you-can-avoid-altogether-a-clean/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [I am so organized that it's dysfunctional. Everything has a place. I am a very visual person, so my environment is important to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/i-am-so-organized-that-it-s-dysfunctional-everything-has-a-place-i-am/)

[Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/)

> [“A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-e-murphy/a-clean-desk-is-a-sign-of-a-cluttered-mind/)

[C.E. Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-e-murphy/)

> [Adolphus is not at his desk. That means he is somewhere in the Monstrumarium, has gone home for the day, or is dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/adolphus-is-not-at-his-desk-that-means-he-is-somewhere-in-the/)

[Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/)

> [“You should try dating nice guys," her friend Ludy used to say in high school. "They're nice . I think you'd like them." "Boring,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/you-should-try-dating-nice-guys-her-friend-ludy-used-to-say-in-high/)

[Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/)

> [I don't have a Bloomberg on my desk. I don't care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/i-don-t-have-a-bloomberg-on-my-desk-i-don-t-care/)

[Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/)

> [It seemed to me that I should have a desk, even though I had no real need for a desk. I was afraid that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/it-seemed-to-me-that-i-should-have-a-desk-even-though-i-had-no-real/)

[E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/)

> [I have three boxes on my desk: In, Out, and Too Hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/i-have-three-boxes-on-my-desk-in-out-and-too-hard/)

[Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/)

> [I'm terrible in the mornings, but I'm always at my desk by 10 A.M.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-herbert/i-m-terrible-in-the-mornings-but-i-m-always-at-my-desk-by-10-a-m/)

[James Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-herbert/)

> [The way I see it, more people are wired with broadband from 9 to 5 during the day than watch TV at night. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-burnett/the-way-i-see-it-more-people-are-wired-with-broadband-from-9-to-5/)

[Mark Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-burnett/)

> [Here, beside this great black surface that is my desk, I feel as though I am on a desert island.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/etty-hillesum/here-beside-this-great-black-surface-that-is-my-desk-i-feel-as-though/)

[Etty Hillesum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/etty-hillesum/)

> [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/)

> [“Yes, when I get big and have my own home, no plush chairs and lace curtains for me. And no rubber plants. I'll have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-smith/yes-when-i-get-big-and-have-my-own-home-no-plush-chairs-and-lace/)

[Betty Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-smith/)

## More by Michio Kaku

> [“My fundamental premise about the brain is that its workings—what we sometimes call “mind”—are a consequence of its anatomy and physiology, and nothing more.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/my-fundamental-premise-about-the-brain-is-that-its-workings-what-we/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [I have nothing against investment banking, but it's like massaging money rather than creating money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-have-nothing-against-investment-banking-but-it-s-like-massaging/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [I am a figure skater, which helps me appreciate Newton's theory of mechanics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-am-a-figure-skater-which-helps-me-appreciate-newton-s-theory-of/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [If space is a fabric, then of course fabrics can have ripples, which we have now seen directly. But fabrics can also rip. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/if-space-is-a-fabric-then-of-course-fabrics-can-have-ripples-which-we/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [The best theory comes from string theory, which states that dark matter is nothing but a higher vibration of the string. We are, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/the-best-theory-comes-from-string-theory-which-states-that-dark/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [The media, of course, loves to make claims about the fountain of youth. Don't believe it. No one has it. But we're getting close.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/the-media-of-course-loves-to-make-claims-about-the-fountain-of-youth/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [Consciousness-one level is understanding where we are in space. Consciousness two is where we understand our position in society: who's top dog, who's underdog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/consciousness-one-level-is-understanding-where-we-are-in-space/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [It would take a civilization far more advanced than ours, unbelievably advanced, to begin to manipulate negative energy to create gateways to the past.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-would-take-a-civilization-far-more-advanced-than-ours-unbelievably/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [A human body can think thoughts, play a piano, kill germs, remove toxins, make a baby all at once. Once it's doing that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/a-human-body-can-think-thoughts-play-a-piano-kill-germs-remove-toxins/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [“I’m as fond of my body as anyone, but if I can be 200 with a body of silicon, I’ll take it. —DANIEL HILL,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/i-m-as-fond-of-my-body-as-anyone-but-if-i-can-be-200-with-a-body-of/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [Science is about principles. It's about concepts. It's not about memorizing the parts of a flower. It helps to know some of these things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/science-is-about-principles-it-s-about-concepts-it-s-not-about/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [A related aspect of intelligent consciousness is delay of gratification: the wisdom to accurately predict whether delay rather than acting on impulse will yield…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/a-related-aspect-of-intelligent-consciousness-is-delay-of/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [“There are an estimated 100 billion neurons residing inside the skull with an exponential amount of neural connections”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/there-are-an-estimated-100-billion-neurons-residing-inside-the-skull/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [“But on the question of whether the robots will eventually take over, he { Rodney A. Brooks } says that this will probably not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/but-on-the-question-of-whether-the-robots-will-eventually-take-over/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

> [The idea that excites me the most concerns the two greatest puzzles in science: the origin of the universe, and the origin of consciousness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/the-idea-that-excites-me-the-most-concerns-the-two-greatest-puzzles/)

[Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

[Explore all 328 Michio Kaku quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/)

## More Anything quotes

> [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/)

[Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/)

> [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/)

[Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/)

> [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/)

[Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/)

[Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/)

[Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/)

> [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/)

[Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/)

> [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/)

[Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/)

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/)

[Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/)

> [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/)

[Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/)

> [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/)

[Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/)

> [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you're not doing anything.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michio Kaku"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk-because-it-means-you-re-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anything"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk-because-it-means-you-re-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56f/michio-kaku-907_anything_it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk_2775120.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It's pointless to have a nice clean desk, because it means you're not doing anything.” — Michio Kaku",
                "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": "Michio Kaku",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It's pointless to have a nice...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk-because-it-means-you-re-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/it-s-pointless-to-have-a-nice-clean-desk-because-it-means-you-re-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
