I have always espoused the benefits of being frugal in our materialistic world as I believe in it. In this post I have collected quotes about frugality from some of the world’s famous people.
If you are to live a happy life you must learn to thrift in your spending. It will not only help you save money, but it will also help in preventing waste in this world.
Quotes About Frugality
Without further ado below are over 61 famous quotes about frugality.
- “We make ourselves rich by making our wants few,” – Henry David Thoreau.
I wish we all paid heed to this advice. Being rich is about being satisfied with what you already have and not desiring more wants. After we have determined our needs which are a must we can then limit our wants which are discretionary.
- “By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.” – Agesilaus.
This is really true as there is no freedom for that that are looking to accumulate the things of this world. Those people are restless and sometimes have to overwork just to be able to afford some luxuries. Frugality is the way to go for those that want liberty and want to prosper.
- “There is no dignity quite so impressive, and no one independence quite so important, as living within your means.” – Calvin Coolridge.
Calvin Coolridge is spot on here. Our goal should always be to live within our means. Overspending will only lead to us incurring debts to support our excesses. I won’t mind someone getting a loan to buy an asset such as real estate but incurring debt to support our day to day expenses is a mistake.
- “Being frugal allows you to appreciate the simple things in life.” – John Sachem.
There is nothing as stress-free as living a simple life where you are not competing with anyone. If you follow this path you will soon realize what you were missing by overstretching yourself financially.
Complicating our lives just leaves us restless and stressed, most especially if we are overspending. I had a friend who was always broke as his income was all being used to repay his debts. He was actually struggling to even pay for his rent.
- “Frugality is the mother of all virtues.” – Justinian I.
I definitely agree with Justinian I on this. Being frugal shows that someone is in control of his own destiny. He is not being controlled by the ads online or on television or by peer pressure. Frugality definitely is indeed a mother of all virtues in that respect.
- “Without frugality none can be rich, and with it very few would be poor.” – Samuel Johnson.
This reminds of a certain rich man I know. He was really very “stingy” when it comes to his money. While some of us who are not rich by any stretch of imagination were busy spending money on luxuries he was busy ploughing back his income into his business. As a result his business continued to grow from strength to strength. You cannot grow your business when you are just taking money out of it.
- “I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money.” – Pablo Picasso.
This is the secret of all rich people. They would rather live like a poor man while reinvesting any money that they make. While the rest of us are wasting our money on cable television subscription and others these people are investing that money in stocks and bonds. That is a lesson for all of us.
- “Frugality is founded on the principle that all riches have limits.” – Edmund Burke.
The resources of this world are limited and because of that they have to be used sparingly. The same applies to our personal resources and we have to be frugal in our spending habits. If we have excess we can find investing opportunities.
- “If the clothes could speak, they would tell the specifics of people who wear them. Stylish, humble, old-fashioned…They would tell how some stylish people wear colorful, expensive clothes to influence others; how some humble people wear sports clothes and they are modern living. They would tell whether they are frugal or extravagant. They would tell if people tidy or untidy via the way they keep their clothes. If they could speak even they would tell spending too much money for clothes is wastefulness.” – Nessryn.
I have a friend who buys his clothes from some of the most expensive shops around. I was shocked to find out how much he pays for his suits and other clothes. I would never spend the figures that he mentioned on clothes.
In any case, I doubt if anyone would notice that I was wearing some designer clothes. Clothes are just that, clothes. Regardless of the cost they all do the same thing to our bodies i.e. cover them. I would rather invest money than spend it on expensive clothes that will be worn out within a few months.
- “It’s the intelligent thing to be frugal.” – Chuck Feeney.
If you assessed the benefits of frugality you will be convinced that it is the intelligent thing to do. There are better things that you can do with your money than spending it on things that bring no value to your life. The intelligent thing to do is to invest your money.
- “Frugality drives innovation, just like other constraints do. One of the only ways to get out of a tight box is to invent your way out.” – Jeff Bezos.
A really cool quote about frugality and its benefits in a company. If by being frugal in your spending it makes you innovate then that is the best thing that can happen to your business. Only businesses that are good at innovation grow from strength to strength.
- “Frugality, quite simply, is about choosing the things you love enough to spend extravagantly on – and then cutting costs mercilessly on the things you don’t love.” – Ramit Sethi.
I like this frugality quote especially about choosing things to spend extravagantly on. I cannot imagine myself using the word “extravagantly” in relation to frugal living. It however offers some timely advice.
- “Industry is fortune’s right hand, and frugality its left.” – John Ray.
Anoher really intelligent quote from John Ray about frugality. You really need both of these virtues to succeed in life.
- “Frugality is the daughter of common sense, the sister of moderation and the mother of freedom.” – Samuel Smiles.
I too think of frugality as a means of getting freedom in this world. It is really common sense to be frugal. Overspending your money is never a wise decision especially if you end up incurring credit card debt. If you want good debt then incur it in order to purchase assets.
- “The greatest wealth is to live content with little.” – Plato.
I wish we all followe the wisdom of Plato here. We all need to be content with the little that we have. If we are not content with what we already have we will live a miserable life in this world. We will be restless and stressed about things that we don’t really need.
- “He who will not economize will have to agonize.” – Confucius.
Another gem of wisdom from the ancient world. No wonder that his followers have paid heed to his words. I know that in places where he is sill revered the culture of savings is very high.
- “The worst kind of shame is being ashamed of frugality or poverty.” – Livy.
There is no reason to be ashamed of a life of frugality. It is the key that can unlock so many doors for you.
- “Spending more than what you can afford will finally bring upon a catastrophe someday. The virtues of a frugal life are beyond that of a thrifty one. So does our forefathers have taught with their evidential habits.” – Safi Shamsi.
I know from experience what overspending can do to you. I have been in situations where a significant portion of my money went towards servicing my debts. As a result I was forced to go even further into debt as I failed to cut my expenses.
- “Industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth…thereby [secures] virtue, it being more difficult for a man in want to act always honestly…” – Benjamin Franklin.
These two virtues of industry and frugality are the ones that have the potential to bring prosperity in your life.
- “Wealth consists non in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” – Epictetus.
If you can control your wants you can achieve a lot.
- “Frugality without creativity is deprivation.” – Amy Dacyczyn.
Frugality on its own is not enough. There is always room for creativity in being frugal. You will need creativity in find other options for the things you forego.
- “Wealth can only be accumulated by the earnings of industry and the savings of frugality.” – John Tyler.
- “Great wealth is a gift from heaven; moderate wealth results from frugality.” – Chinese Proverbs.
- “The way to wealth depends on just two words, industry and frugality.” – Benjamin Franklin.
- “There may be frugality which is not economy. A community, that withholds the means of education from its children, withholds the bread of life and starves their souls.” – Horace Mann.
- “Frugality is a handsome income.” – Desiderius Erasmus.
- “Frugality is misery in disguise.” – Publilius Syrus.
Really. I don’t see it that way.
- “I’m so frugal, you wouldn’t believe it.” – Serena Williams.
If a millionaire like her can be frugal then we all have no excuse for choosing the frugal lifestyle. There is no point living beyond your means as it only results in heartaches financially.
- “The spirit of commerce is frugality, economy, moderation, labor, ponderance, tranquility, order, and rule. So long as this spirit subsides, the riches it produces have no bad effect. The mischief is when excessive wealth destroys the spirit of commerce, then it is that the conveniences of inequality .. are felt.” – Baron de Montesquieu.
- “Prudence with frugality is apt and without frugality it becomes redundant.” – Sumita.
- “Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyous words in the language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.” – Elise M. Boulding.
- “I need more frugality. I wonder where I can buy some.” – Jarod Kintz.
Very funny frugality quote indeed! Unfortunately you cannot buy frugality(LOL).
- “The more we’re doing to ensure we’re following our joy and passion, that’s when we really start to put the gas in our lives.” – Joshua Mohr.
- “Frugality includes all the other virtues.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero.
Very true indeed. Frugality is hard and to achieve it you need the other virtues too.
- “I have three treasures. Guard and keep them: The first is deep love, the second is frugality, and the third is not to dare to be ahead of the world. Because of deep love, one is courageous. Because of frugality, one is generous. Because of not daring to be ahead, one becomes the leader of the world.” – Lao – Tzu.
A really wise statement. Once you have learned and practice the virtue of frugality you will have enough money to help those around you that are struggling. And to do that you need deep love. Further you cannot be frugal if you are daring to be ahead of the world in fashion and other things. It costs money to be ahead in fashion.
- “The purity of unison singing, unaffected by alien motives of musical techniques, the clarity, unspoiled by the attempt to give musical art an autonomy of its own apart from the words, the simplicity and frugality, the humaneness and warmth of this way of singing is the essence of all congregational singing, this.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Frugality is not just about money. It covers other aras of our life too.
- “Great entrepreneurial DNA is comprised of leadership, technological vision, frugality, and the desire to succeed.” – Steve Blank.
All the most successful people I have know are also frugal. Nonfrugal people will blow everything they make from their business by buying some of the most expensive things in life. Look at the life of some of our most successful boxers who blew up all the millions they made when they were successful through extravagant lifestyles.
- “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Really true words of wisdom to ponder.
- “Frugality is enjoying the virtue of getting good value for every minute of your life energy and from everything you have the use of.” – Viold Robin.
- “I’ve learned that minimalism is not about what you own, it’s about why you own it.” – Brian Gardner.
- “The Bible warns us against greed and selfishness, it does encourage frugality and thrift.” – Billy Graham.
If you are a Christian then frugality is a must if we are to believe what Billy Grahams says here. Greed and selfishness is always bad even outside Christian circles.
- “I’m frugal I’ve always been this way, when I was young, my mom would give me my allowance, and I’d peel off a little each week and have some to spare.” – Tyra Banks.
That is the way to go Tyra. This is a good lesson for parents. Teach your kids money management when they are young and they will turn out to be responsible adults when it comes to money.
- “I’m old enough to remember in the 1930s and the 1940s when thrift, frugality, was considered an important virtue.” – Edmund Phelps.
It is definitely time we went back to these good virtues of thrift and frugality. Especially now when the majority of us are steeped in credit card debt leaving us with little room for manoeuver in times of emergencies. It is really an unsustainable situation.
- “Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it.” – Joshua Becker.
Minimalism and frugality do go together sometimes. You can be frugal without being a minimalist but you cannot be a minimalist without being frugal.
- “Consumerism has worked very hard, with the help of popular psychology (‘Just do it!’) to convince people that indulgence is good for you, whereas frugality is self-oppression.” – Yuval Noah Harari.
Over the years marketers have learned the best ways to manipulate our brains. They have found a way to bypass the analytical part of our brains and go straight to the emotional side of it. Such that, emotions rule the roost when people view modern ads.
- “Where lies poverty, there is frugality colored with love.” – Dhanya Rashmi.
- “You have to be ready for hard work and frugal spending to get the idea off the ground.” – Garrett Camp.
- “Money is a terrible master but an excellent servant.” – P. T. Barnum.
- “If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them, and half as much money.” – Abigail Van Buren.
- “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks live work.” – Thomas Edison.
- “No free government, or the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people but by a firm adherence to justice, moderation, temperance, frugality, and virtue; and by a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.” – Patrick Henry.
- “Life’s too short to hang out with people who aren’t resourceful.” – Jeff Bezos.
- “A cardinal principle of the gospel is to prepare for the day of scarcity. Work, industry, frugality are part of the royal order of life.” – Keith B. McMullin.
- “The ability of mental concentration, as well as the absolutely essential feeling of obligation to one’s job, are here most often combined with a strict economy which calculates the possibility of high earnings, and a cool self-control and frugality which enormously increase performance.” – Max Weber.
- “The virtue of frugality lies in a middle between avarice and profusion, of which the one consists in an excess, the other in a defect of the proper attention to the objects of self-interest.” – Adam Smith.
- “The lavishness of my solitude. The frugality of your company. I chose to choose the first one for I was a spoiled child of destiny.” – Bhawna.
- “Diligence means to be keen in matters of virtue and justice, but worldly people use diligence to solve their economic difficulties. Frugality means to have little desire for material goods, but worldly people use frugality as a cover for stinginess. Thus do watchwords of enlightened life turn into tools for the private business of small people. What a pity!” – Zicheng Hong.
- “A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls.” – Proverbs 25:20 NLT.
- “I hold it the duty of the executive to insist upon frugality in the expenditure, and a sparing economy is itself a great national source.” – Andrew Johnson.
- “A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.” – Jonathan Swift.
- “Frugality is an estate alone.” – Latin Proverbs.
- “Oh, what darkness does great prosperity cast over our minds.” – Seneca.
- “If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.” – Benjamin Franklin.
- “If frugality were established in the state, and if our expenses were laid out to meet needs rather than superfluities of life, there might be fewer pleasures, but infinitely more happiness.” – Oliver Goldsmith.
- “If saving money is wrong, I don’t want to be right!” – William Shatner.
- “In nature, all is managed for the best with perfect frugality and just reserve, profuse to none, but bountiful to all; never employing on one thing more than enough, but with exact economy retrenching the superfluous, and adding force to what is principal in everything.” – Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury.
- “With the greater part of rich people, the chief enjoyment of riches consists in the parade of riches.” – Adam Smith.
- “The world has not yet learned the riches of frugality.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero.
I hope that you have been blessed by these frugal quotes and have learned one or two things as you endeavor to be economical and prudent in your saving. I know you will not regret having taken this journey.
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