“I recommend you dispose of anything that does not fall into one of three categories: currently in use, needed for a limited period of time, or must be kept indefinitely.”

It’s far more important to adorn your home with the things you love than to keep it so bare it lacks anything that brings you joy.

No matter how wonderful things used to be, we cannot live in the past. The joy and excitement we feel here and now are more important.

Never discard anything without saying thank you and good-bye.

Reducing the amount of stuff in our space also reduces the amount of dust, and we actually clean more often.

To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose. To throw away what you no longer need is neither wasteful nor shameful.

Be sure to completely finish the first task before starting the next.

The ultimate secret of success is this: If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mindset.

In essence, tidying ought to be the act of restoring balance among people, their possessions, and the house they live in.

From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change.

People with large book collections are almost always diligent learners.

Many people have equated my tidying method with minimalism, but it’s quite different.

If you are going to buy clothes, choose them with the intention of welcoming them into your home and caring for them.

As for you, pour your time and passion into what brings you the most joy, your mission in life.

The meaning of a photo lies in the excitement and joy you feel when taking it.

People who can’t stay tidy can be categorized into just three types: ‘the can’t throw it away type’, ‘the can’t put it back type’, and ‘the first-two-combined’ type.

Tidying orders and relaxes the mind.

You have to stop listening in categories. The music is either good or it’s bad.

Society likes to file you away, put you in this or that category. And I never fit any category.

So the idea of being able to shop cross-category to buy the beach bag, the summer lip gloss, and the pillows for your pool house makes it into very focused, easy life.

Possessions of this world have not been for the exclusive use by such or such category of individuals.

You taste something from St. George, even across categories – the gin, the whisky – it tastes like something from St. George. It’s the same as going to a great bar:

Reading across three languages is a way for me to diversify my intake as a reader, not to tunnel into certain categories or demographics.

What is meant, however, is a higher category than being: the power of maintaining being.

People who can’t stay tidy can be categorized into just three types: ‘the can’t throw it away type’, ‘the can’t put it back type’, and ‘the first-two-combined’ type.