--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With respect to physical existence, one…" description: "\"With respect to physical existence, one needs little, and to the degree that one needs less, the more perfect one is.\" — Soren Kierkegaard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/soren-kierkegaard-578_consumerism_with-respect-to-physical-existence-one-n_1640905.jpg" --- # With respect to physical existence, one needs little, and… ![“With respect to physical existence, one needs little, and to the degree that one needs less, the more perfect one is.” quote by Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/soren-kierkegaard-578_consumerism_with-respect-to-physical-existence-one-n_1640905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/soren-kierkegaard-578_consumerism_with-respect-to-physical-existence-one-n_1640905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0a/soren-kierkegaard-578_consumerism_with-respect-to-physical-existence-one-n_1640905.jpg) > “With respect to physical existence, one needs little, and to the degree that one needs less, the more perfect one is.” [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Minimal material needs correlate with spiritual perfection. **In simple terms:** Less material desire, greater spiritual perfection. Key Takeaway Simplify to attain inner perfection. Themes minimalism spirituality philosophy Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - daily life - consumer culture - personal meditation Key Concepts Asceticism existential meaning Questions to Reflect On - Can one achieve perfection without material comfort? - What role does desire play in spiritual growth? A Different Perspective Material simplicity may not satisfy all human needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consumerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumerism/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Overconsumption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconsumption/) [Perfect one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-one/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [“a perfect customer is one whose needs are a perfect fit for a company’s mission. When the relationship between need and service are perfectly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-hall/a-perfect-customer-is-one-whose-needs-are-a-perfect-fit-for-a-company/) Stacey Hall > [“The first thing we need to find,' said Mr Golan, 'is a reason to live'. ... 'Without a reason, why bother? 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He remains pure Consciousness alone while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/balajinnatha-pandita/god-bearing-the-whole-psycho-physical-existence-as-reflections-is/) [Balajinnatha Pandita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/balajinnatha-pandita/) > [It becomes evident that when the Life-power awakens its mysterious activity at the beginning of a cycle of manifestation those vibrations which we recognise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-foster-case/it-becomes-evident-that-when-the-life-power-awakens-its-mysterious/) Paul Foster Case > [We are all afforded our physical existence so we can learn about ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/we-are-all-afforded-our-physical-existence-so-we-can-learn-about/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) ## More by Soren Kierkegaard > [Christianity does not oppose debauchery and uncontrollable passions and the like as much as it opposes... flat mediocrity, this nauseating atmosphere, this homey, civil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christianity-does-not-oppose-debauchery-and-uncontrollable-passions/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Christians remind me of schoolboys who want to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the book rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christians-remind-me-of-schoolboys-who-want-to-look-up-the-answers-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [People commonly travel the world over to see rivers and mountains, new stars, garish birds, freak fish, grotesque breeds of human; they fall into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/people-commonly-travel-the-world-over-to-see-rivers-and-mountains-new/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [“A strange thing happened to me in my dream. 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The important thing is to make a beginning and get under way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/a-road-well-begun-is-the-battle-half-won-the-important-thing-is-to/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [I have, I believe, the courage to doubt everything; I have, I believe, the courage to fight against everything; but I do not have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/i-have-i-believe-the-courage-to-doubt-everything-i-have-i-believe-the/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) [Explore all 462 Soren Kierkegaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) ## More Consumerism quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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And they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-dumontais/fifty-years-ago-people-went-without-clothes-in-order-to-eat-today/) Sinclair Dumontais > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“In my view, dissatisfaction is implicit in the fabric of consumerism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-bruno/in-my-view-dissatisfaction-is-implicit-in-the-fabric-of-consumerism/) [Dave Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-bruno/) > [Just when you thought multi-nationals and crazed consumerism were too big to fight, along comes Naomi Klein with facts, spirit, and news of successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/just-when-you-thought-multi-nationals-and-crazed-consumerism-were-too/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [“Logograms pose a more difficult question. 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