When it comes to time management, material possessions, and life in general — quality beats quantity 99 percent of the time.
Keep reading for a brief explanation of that, otherwise skip to the quotes. Enjoy!
Quality over quantity and minimalism
In one of the first chapters of Goodbye, Things Fumio Sasaki gives a definition of minimalism as well as what minimalism means for him.
As an analogy, the author compares our brain to a computer that is overloaded with too much stuff because of the modern world, and the amount of information we receive and the things we are supposed to do each day.
Here are his words:
I’ve heard that we humans are like pieces of hardware that haven’t changed for fifty thousand years. Think about all the changes just since the Edo period four centuries ago, and then consider that we’re coping with all that with a brain that’s fifty thousand years old!
Our limited hard disk space is overloaded with unnecessary information. Our precious memory is consumed with how others see us, and it’s used mostly for chasing things and managing them.
We turn to all sorts of entertainment for temporary relief. And eventually, even that becomes too overwhelming and we start to reach for the easiest and most mindless distractions like smartphone games, gossip, and alcohol.
Whether we like it or not, our mind can only handle so many things at the same time. By living a lifestyle in which our mental and physical energy are absorbed by a million different things, it’s going to be pretty hard to take care of our mental health. It’s also going to be impossible to focus our energy on the few things that do matter.
This is where the concept of quality over quantity comes into place. By embracing our minimalist side and by eliminating all those distractions, responsibilities, and practically useless things that fill our time, we can then make room for the things we love — without overloading our “fifty thousand year old piece of software”.
This concept applies to relationships, goal setting, material possessions, work, and anything else. Would you rather have a wide circle of acquaintances you barely know, or a few friends that you truly relate to and fully trust?
Would you rather own a thousand mediocre items, or ten that you absolutely love? Is it more sensible to achieve twenty goals that improve your life slightly, or one that changes it radically? In most cases, the answer is obvious.
I hope the following 40 quotes will inspire you to prioritize your life, go for the best, and get rid of everything and anything that’s not the level of quality you deserve. If there is a quote in particular that resonates with you, please let me know by leaving a reply at the end of this post.
Quality over quantity quotes
It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity.
— George MacDonald
Buy less, choose well: that’s the maxim. Quality, not quantity. That’s the most environmentally friendly thing you can do.
— Vivienne Westwood
I don’t think quantity time is as special as quality time with your family.
— Reba McEntire
Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.
— William Morris
The first step in crafting the life you want is to get rid of everything you don’t.
— Joshua Becker
Believe what your heart tells you when you ask: does this spark joy?
— Marie Kondo
I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
— Bruce Lee
The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your relationships. The quality of your business is no different.
— Harvey Mackay
We should always choose our books as God chooses our friends, just a bit beyond us, so that we have to do our best to keep up with them.
— Oswald Chambers
No matter the risks we take, we always consider the end to be too soon, even though in life, more than anything else, quality should be more important than quantity.
— Alex Honnold
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.
— Norman Vincent Peale
Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.
The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.
The intention to live as long as possible isn’t one of the mind’s best intentions, because quantity isn’t the same as quality.
— Deepak Chopra
Be picky about vibes. Be picky about the energy you surround yourself with. You owe yourself that much.
— Unknown
I would rather have thirty minutes of “wonderful” than a lifetime of “nothing special”.
— Julia Roberts
It is not the quantity but the quality of knowledge which determines the mind’s dignity.
— William Ellery Channing
Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy.
— Leo Babauta
It’s a funny thing about life: if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.
— William Somerset Maugham
There are more things to gain from eliminating excess than you might imagine: time, space, freedom, and energy, for example.
— Fumio Sasaki
You will be remembered, in the long haul, for the quality of your work, not the quantity of your work. No one evaluates Picasso based on the number of paintings he churned out.
— Tom Peters
Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.
— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Intelligent people tend to have less friends than the average person. The smarter you are, the more selective you become.
— Nikola Tesla
Anything and anyone that does not help you become the best version of yourself is too small for you.
— Matthew Kelly
The word “no” is a great time saver. Say no to anything that is not the highest and best use of your time.
— Brian Tracy
The wise man will always reflect concerning the quality, not the quantity, of life.
— Seneca
As we grow up, we realize it becomes less important to have a ton of friends, and more important to have real ones.
— Unknown
Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.
— Steve Jobs
Short quality over quantity quotes
Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.
— John Rockefeller
My philosophy all my life has been the pursuit of excellence.
— John Kluge
Quality, not quantity, is my measure.
— Douglas William Jerrold
God serves the choosy; they know what to want.
— Maxine Kumin
The older I get, the more selective I am with my tribe.
— Unknown
If you don’t value excellence, you won’t achieve excellence.
— Glenn Stewart
Buy less, choose well, make it last.
— Vivienne Westwood
Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
— Buddha
Quality is the best business plan.
— John Lasseter
Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.
— Vince Lombardi
I’d rather have two good friends than 500,000 admirers.
— E. E. Cummings
Don’t go for good, or better. The best is yours; go for it.
— Israelmore Ayivor
It is the quality of our work which will please God and not the quantity.
— Mahatma Gandhi
Which quote is the best, in your opinion? Leave a reply and let me know! 👇
