Famous People Across History Who Lived Simply

Rabindranath Tagore and Albert Einstein, another famous advocate of the simple life.

Living simply has always appealed to a wide variety of people, even famous people that could have lived more luxuriously. 

The choice to live simply has always been a viable, attractive option outside the constrictions of conventionality.

The following are a few unconventional famous people across history who preferred simplicity over complexity and convenience:

1. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Lived in a small cabin near Walden Pond, embracing minimalism and self-sufficiency.

2. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Advocated for simple living, spinning his own clothes and living with few possessions.

3. Saint Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Renounced wealth and lived in poverty, focusing on spiritual growth and simplicity.

4. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910)

Embraced a simple life, giving away his wealth and living as a peasant farmer.

5. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

Lived a reclusive life, finding joy in nature and simplicity.

6. Diogenes (412-323 BCE)

A Greek philosopher who lived in a clay pot, rejecting luxury and social conventions.

7. Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Lived simply, focusing on art, literature, and spiritual growth.

8. Simplicius of Cilicia (c. 420-484 CE)

A Christian ascetic who lived in solitude, devoting himself to prayer and simplicity.

These rebels and renouncers demonstrate that living simply can be a path to greater fulfillment, creativity, and spiritual growth, no matter who, where, or when, you are.

Choosing to live simply - it was good then, continues to be good now, and will be an even better choice for the future.