A house is different from a home. A home is what you make of it — how you transform structures so that it becomes your own.
To get you inspired, here are some of the most prolific quotes about living in a beautiful home.
1. “A man’s house is his castle.”
Sir Edward Coke (1552 – 1634)
English jurist, member of parliament and writer
Although the saying “a man’s house [or home] is his castle” is an old English proverb, many books of famous quotations include this quote by Coke, who used the phrase in several of his writings and rulings.
One of his most noted uses is in his legal treatise The Institutes of the Laws of England (1628). In that, Coke wrote “A man’s house is his castle and fortress, et domus sua cuique tutissimum refugium.” The Latin part at the end translates as “and each man’s home is his safest refuge.” Coke’s use helped establish the general legal principle that no one may enter a person’s home without permission.
A man’s house is his castle – Sir Edward Coke (1628)
Click to tweet2. “Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”
Matsuo Basho (1644 – 1694)
17th century Japanese poet
The line comes from the 17th century Japanese poet and haiku master, Matsuo Basho, who wants to remind everyone that home isn’t the destination of our journey, it’s the journey itself. The thought is anchored in the tenets of Taoism and Zen, reminding us that establishing a home doesn’t happen overnight. It is built through treasured moments that ultimately create the joy and comfort that you find in your home.
Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home. – Matsuo Basho
Click to tweet3. “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”
Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014)
American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist
There could be various interpretations of this line, but by and large, it reminds us that a real home will take us in at our best, welcome us at our worst, and is a safe haven for every moment in between.
The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned. –
Maya Angelou
4. “A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.”
Dalai Lama XIV (1935)
The 14th Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama reminds us that a home is so much more than just a structure with four walls and a roof. The values that thrive within it are just as relevant, and a loving home is essential to a life well lived.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. – Dalai Lama XIV
Click to tweet5. “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”
Jane Austen (1775 – 1817)
English novelist
Jane Austen was most famous for exploring women’s dependence on marriage to achieve favorable social standing and economic security. This makes this particular quote about how the author views homes particularly profound. It demonstrates that despite all the social upheaval that her creativity stirred, she still viewed home as a haven.
There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. – Jane Austen
Click to tweet6. “A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life: he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 -1882)
American writer
The famous American essayist, lecturer and poet is perhaps best known for leading the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was recognized as a champion of individualism and a vocal critic of societal pressures. Despite his, at the time, controversial opinion on the status quo, he maintained a very traditional viewpoint about a home. In this line, he talks about all the effort that goes into building and a maintaining a house, which overtime, becomes a part of someone, as it evolves to become a home.
A man builds a fine house; now he has a task for life: furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.
Click to tweet7. “A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”
Unknown
It’s a simple rhyme that we don’t even know who to attribute to, yet it perfectly encapsulates what a real home should be. Houses, for all it grandeur is actually nothing when its owners don’t put their love and dreams into it.
A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams. – Unknown
Click to tweetAs someone who works with homes, it’s important for me to understand what the real value of a house is to its owners. To that end, the home design should reflect their personality, aesthetic, and most of all, represent their values. These quotes help remind me of that–and hopefully, it helped inspire you to.
Do you have a favourite quote about beautiful home? Please share it with the rest of us and leave me a comment below.
Here’s an infographic with the quotes – hope you’ll like it – feel free to share. Above all, enjoy your home. May it truly always be your castle!