Simple living encompasses a number of different voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. These may include reducing one's possessions or increasing self-sufficiency, for example. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they need rather than want. Although asceticism generally promotes living simply and refraining from luxury and indulgence, not all proponents of simple living are ascetics. Simple living is distinct from those living in forced poverty, as it is a voluntary lifestyle choice.
Adherents may choose simple living for a variety of personal reasons, such as spirituality, health, increase in "quality time" for family and friends, workâlife balance, personal taste, frugality, or reducing personal ecological footprint and stress. Simple living can also be a reaction to materialism and conspicuous consumption. Some cite socio-political goals aligned with the anti-consumerist or anti-war movements, including conservation, degrowth, social justice, ethnic diversity, tax resistance and sustainable development.
Read more about Simple Living: Economics
Famous quotes containing the words simple and/or living:
“Christina Bailey: I was just thinking how much you can tell about a person from such simple things. Your car, for instance.
Mike Hammer: Now what kind of message does it send you?
Christina: You have only one real, lasting love.
Mike: Now who could that be?
Christina: You. You’re one of those self-indulgent males who thinks about nothing but his clothes, his car, himself. I’ll bet you do push-ups every morning just to keep your belly hard.”
—A.I. (Albert Isaac)
“In a living society every day is a day of judgment; and its recognition as such is not the end of all things but the beginning of a real civilization.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)