Marie Kondo

“For kids, it's best to teach them how to fold their clothes first. Kids will be able to fold their clothes at about three years old. You don't want to teach them how to put away toys first because it's difficult. Clothes are something kids wear every day, so it's easy for them to have a sense about their belongings.”

“A lot of people agree that tidying is connected to how we live, and even though, outside of Japan, houses might be bigger, people have more things than they need.”

“Quite a few books about decluttering are published in a year.”

“Changing lifestyle habits acquired over many years is often extremely difficult.”

“People cannot change their tidying habits without first changing their way of thinking.”

“It's human nature to take the easy route and leap at storage methods that promise quick and convenient ways to remove visible clutter. Putting things away creates the illusion that the clutter problem has been solved. But sooner or later, all the storage units are full, and the room once again overflows with things.”

“I have an image in my mind of what I want, whether it's a light jacket or a one-piece. I can tell if what I want is in the store right away.”

“It's important to understand your ownership pattern because it is an expression of the values that guide your life. The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.”

“I had a slight hope the phrase 'spark joy' might become popular, as it was the keyword that I wanted to put forward in the first place.”

“My head was full of tidying tips, and I had complete, albeit misguided, confidence that I could tidy any place.”

“Attachment to the past and fears concerning the future not only govern the way you select the things you own but also represent the criteria by which you make choices in every aspect of your life, including your relationships with people and your job.”

“The inside of a house or apartment after decluttering has much in common with a Shinto shrine... a place where there are no unnecessary things, and our thoughts become clear.”

“I used to clean my brother and sister's rooms. And I would go to friends' houses and clean their rooms, too.”

“The objects you decide to keep, the ones that gave you the spark of joy? Treasure them from now on. When you put things away, you can actually audibly say, 'Hey, thank you for the good work today...' By doing so, it becomes easier for you to put the objects away and treasure them, which prolongs the spark of joy environment.”