Simplicity versus pleasure. Brillat-Savarin's philosophy of enjoyment meets Thoreau's deliberate living.
Brillat-SavarinvsHenry David Thoreau
My husband and I make good money but we're constantly stressed about it. We have alot of stuff, a 4400 sqft house with mortgage, my Land Rover, his Porsche, jeep (all with payments), subscriptions to just about every streaming service under the sun, dinners out all week (we're too tired to cook). I've been reading about minimalism which is at times pretty appealing, on paper— do two people really need 4000 sqft? We could cook at home, and maybe spend more time together. Spend time outdoors instead of in front of the TV. Maybe take some dance lessons, or join a bike club (we both like to ride). My husband thinks I'm being extreme about downsizing, and getting rid of stuff. He says we've "earned" our lifestyle and the answer is just to make more money. I feel I'm going to have to push this because the way we're going isn't sustainable for me. But here's the thing: when I imagine a simpler life, I imagine it being boring. I love trying new restaurants. I love hosting dinner parties. I love having nice things. Can you be a minimalist and still enjoy the pleasures of life?
"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are—pleasure is philosophy"
The pleasures of the table belong to all ages, all conditions, all countries. The problem is not enjoyment but mindless consumption. Host fewer dinner parties, but make each one memorable. Eat out less often, but savor every bite when you do.
"Simplify, simplify—our life is frittered away by detail"
Most people live lives of quiet desperation because they've accumulated obligations they never chose. Your subscriptions, your payments, your stress—these are chains you put on yourself. True pleasure requires freedom, and freedom requires simplicity.
93 votes total