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The Paradox of Minimalism

The Paradox of Minimalism may be summed up in one sentence:

"If less is more, how little is too much?"

There are NIL Google results for that phrase, a quotation now attributable to Possom Cohen, New Zealand.

Time becomes more valuable as one ages. This is a classic example of the Paradox of Minimalism.
The Paradox of Minimalism is related to the passage of time and to The Holiday Paradox.

Why Does Time Seem to Speed Up with Age?
July 1, 2016
Scientific American

Bonnie Raitt addressed the passage of time and the Paradox of Minimalism in her song "Nick Of Time."

Bonnie Raitt - Nick Of Time

"I see my folks are getting on
And I watch their bodies change
I know they see the same in me
And it makes us both feel strange

No matter how you tell yourself
It's what we all go through
Those lines are pretty hard to take
When they're staring back at you

Oh Oh Oh, scared you'll run out of time

When did the choices get so hard
With so much more at stake
Life gets mighty precious
When there's less of it to wa-a-a-aste

Mmm-m-m-m-m-m
Mmmmmmm, scared you'll run out of time"

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There's an old joke - um... two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of 'em says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions." Well, that's essentially how I feel about life - full of loneliness, and misery, and suffering, and unhappiness, and it's all over much too quickly.”

― Woody Allen, Annie Hall: Screenplay
The Paradox of Minimalism is epitomized in the opening sentence of this 2016 New York Times article:

"It has become an ostentatious ritual of consumerist self-sacrifice; people who have it all now seem to prefer having nothing at all."

The Oppressive Gospel of ‘Minimalism’
By Kyle Chayka
July 26, 2016
NYTimes

The Paradox of Minimalism also describes some very rich people giving away most of their material possessions.

“The richer you are, the less you have.”

Another ironic example of the Paradox of Minimalism is the recent KonMari decluttering craze:

konmari.com
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A small piece of information. Derived from the word ken, used often in the scottish language and is synonymous with knowledge.
Person 1: "Hey I don't get this shit. How do you solve this problem?"
Person 2: "I got that one. Give me some kenlets on this assignment and I'll help you w/ that one."
kenlet by Norma Y. October 8, 2005
Word of the Day on July 13, 2026

I mean I guess bro

a word of expression to when you give up on comprehending someone's words of ignorance, stupidity, absurdity or are too exhausted to formulate a proper response.

Commonly seen in TikTok comment sections in replies to lazy attempts at humor, overconfidentally incorrect statement, or an over-the-top comment or when someone completely misses the mark on something.
"actually... incorrect statement, hope this helps!"
"I mean I guess bro"
Word of the Day on July 12, 2026

abandonware 

n. software that is no longer sold or supported by the original publisher / developer, often found as free downloads on the internet because it cannot be obtained elsewhere. Not legal, but often seen as morally acceptable because the company that made it is no longer selling the title, nor releasing it as freeware, therefore abandonware is "keeping the game alive", so to speak.
Doom II is not abandonware because id still sells it, while The Incredible Machine is not sold, therefore is abandonware.
abandonware by Spoom October 24, 2003
Word of the Day on July 11, 2026

Foot prisons 

Socks. Annoying, sweat-causing, non-barefoot enducing, everyday socks.
The first thing I do when I take off my shoes, is rip off the foot prisons I had to wear inside them. That's why I prefer flip flops, even in winter!
Foot prisons by Jackalope Hunter December 13, 2022
Word of the Day on July 10, 2026

cornholio 

Ruler of Lake Titicaca. Rumored to have a bunghole that gets very angry if it does not receive toilet paper. Cornholio the Great is often seen walking around with his shirt over his head and his hands in the air, chanting songs about his power, and his bunghole.
"I am Cornholio! You do not want to face the wrath of my bunghole, for I need TP!"
Butthead: Shut up, Beavis! (uh huh huh huh)
Beavis: Um, okay. (heh heh heh heh).
cornholio by AYB July 20, 2003
Word of the Day on July 9, 2026

mickey mousing

In a movie, when the music is syncronized perfectly with the action, just like a mickey mouse cartoon.
Mickey mousing is used in the shower scene of Psycho
Word of the Day on July 8, 2026