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Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.
Henry David Thoreau
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Focus on simplicity in life and reduce complexity to enhance clarity and understanding.

In this quote, Henry David Thoreau advocates for a life of simplicity, suggesting that one should prioritize a few important matters instead of becoming overwhelmed by countless tasks or possessions. He encourages individuals to distill their lives down to the essentials, thereby promoting peace of mind and clarity in decision-making.

Themes

SimplicityClarityOrganizationMinimalismLifeThoreau

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about mindfulness, one might quote Thoreau to emphasize the importance of reducing mental clutter.

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Quote by Henry David Thoreau | QuoteProject