Great things are not something accidental, but must certainly be willed.
—Vincent van Gogh (1853–90) Dutch Painter
Why you are born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are giving to it. I cannot prove that this is a balance of mathematical perfection, but my own observation of life leads me to the conclusion that there is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.
—Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) American Songwriter, Composer, Theater Producer, Writer
Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence.
—Lu Xun (1881–1936) Chinese Writer
The human body is the best picture of the human soul.
—Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-born British Philosopher
A healthy mind in a healthy body.
—Hippocrates (460–370 BCE) Ancient Greek Physician
Like everybody else, when I don’t know what else to do, I seem to go in for catching colds.
—George Jean Nathan (1882–1958) American Drama Critic, Editor
Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy.
—Laozi (b.604BCE–d:Unknown) Chinese Philosopher
The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d druther not.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
God heals and the doctor takes the fee.
—Common Proverb
Don’t worry about losing weight; you’ll find it exactly where you lost it.
—Robert Half
Health is a precious thing, and the only one, in truth, meriting that a man should lay out not only his time, sweat, labor and goods, but also life itself to obtain it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society.
—Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) English Politician, Philosopher
It is remarkable how ones wits are sharpened by physical exercise.
—Pliny the Younger (61–112) Ancient Roman Lawyer, Author, Magistrate
Health and intellect are two blessings of life.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Minor surgery is surgery someone else is having.
—Unknown
Persistent prophecy is a familiar way of assuring the event.
—George Gissing (1857–1903) English Novelist
Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
What we prepare for is what we shall get.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
After two days in the hospital, I turn to the nurse.
—W. C. Fields (1880–1946) American Actor, Comedian, Writer
There is still an immense amount to be learned about health, but if what is at present known to a few were part of the general knowledge, the average expectation of life could probably be increased by about ten years.
—J. B. S. Haldane (1892–1964) British Biologist, Geneticist
We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
To preserve permanent good health, the state of mind must be taken into consideration.
—Robert Owen (1771–1858) British Social Reformer, Philosopher
If you expect nothing, you’re apt to be surprised. You’ll get it.
—Malcolm Forbes (1919–90) American Publisher
I cannot discover that anyone knows enough to say definitely what is and what is not possible.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
What after all has maintained the human race on this old globe despite all the calamities of nature and all the tragic failings of mankind, if not faith in new possibilities and courage to advocate them?
—Jane Addams (1860–1935) American Social Activist, Political Activist, Author, Lecturer
I have learned to use the word impossible with the greatest caution.
—Wernher von Braun (1912–77) German-born American Engineer, Scientist
Wisdom is to the mind what health is to the body.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
A man in good health is always full of advice to the sick.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
There is this difference between the two temporal blessings — health and money; money is the most envied, but the least enjoyed; health is the most enjoyed, but the least envied; and this superiority of the latter is still more obvious when we reflect that the poorest man would not part with health for money, but that the richest would gladly part with all his money for health.
—Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) English Angelic Priest, Writer, Collector
If you wish to keep as well as possible, the less you think about your health the better.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
We forget ourselves and our destinies in health; and the chief use of temporary sickness is to remind us of these concerns.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
We should manage our fortune as we do our health—enjoy it when good, be patient when it is bad, and never apply violent remedies except in an extreme necessity.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Honor begets honor, trust begets trust; faith begets faith; and hope is the mainspring of life.
—Henry L. Stimson (1867–1950) American Political leader, Military Leader, Lawyer
To lengthen thy life, lessen thy meals.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
If the pain wanders, do not waste your time with doctors.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Attention to health is life’s greatest hindrance.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
With stupidity and sound digestion man may front much.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
To make the world a friendly place, one must show it a friendly face.
—James Whitcomb Riley (1849–1916) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer
He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
He who has not faith in others shall find no faith in them.
—Laozi (b.604BCE–d:Unknown) Chinese Philosopher
Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.
—Khalil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.
—Thomas Dekker
The confidence we have in ourselves arises in a great measure from that which we have in others.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
The health of nations is more important than the wealth of nations.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
I have never yet met a healthy person who worried very much about his health, or a really good person who worried much about his own soul.
—J. B. S. Haldane (1892–1964) British Biologist, Geneticist
Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians.
—Common Proverb
Sickness comes on horseback and departs on foot.
—Dutch Proverb
Doctors are always working to preserve our health and cooks to destroy it, but the latter are the more often successful.
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
The man who works need never be a problem to anyone. Opportunities multiply as they are seized; they die when neglected. Life is a long line of opportunities. Wealth is not in making money, but in making the man while he is making money. Production, not destruction, leads to success.
—John Wicker
To keep the body in good health is a duty, for otherwise we shall not be able to trim the lamp of wisdom, and keep our mind strong and clear. Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals.
—Buddhist Teaching
So many people spend their health gaining wealth, and then have to spend their wealth to regain their health.
—A. J. Reb Materi Canadian Clergyman
A man too busy to take care of his health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of his tools.
—Spanish Proverb
In a disordered mind, as in a disordered body, soundness of health is impossible.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
We must dare to think unthinkable thoughts.
—J. William Fulbright (1905–95) American Political leader, Politician
What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn’t much better than tedious disease.
—George D. Prentice (1802–70) American Journalist, Editor
People who don’t know how to keep themselves healthy ought to have the decency to get themselves buried, and not waste time about it.
—Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) Norwegian Playwright
It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician.
—Meryl Streep (b.1949) American Actor
For life is the mirror of king and slave,
‘Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
—Madeline Bridges
Men who are occupied in the restoration of health to other men, by the joint exertion of skill and humanity, are above all the great of the earth. They even partake of divinity, since to preserve and renew is almost as noble as to create.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
In minds crammed with thoughts, organs clogged with toxins, and bodies stiffened with neglect, there is just no space for anything else.
—Alison Rose Levy
Give me health and a day, and I will make the pomp of emperors ridiculous.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
—Common Proverb
He had kept his head, kept his health and his strength, bearing up under a weight of work and worry that only a few could have carried.
—David McCullough (b.1933) American Historian
Sleep is a healing balm for every ill.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
All things are possible until they are proved impossible–even the impossible may only be so, as of now.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Exercise is the chief source of improvement in our faculties.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.
—B. K. S. Iyengar (1918–2014) Indian Hindu Yoga Teacher
Gold that buys health can never be ill spent; nor hours laid out in harmless merriment.
—John Webster (1580–1634) English Dramatist, Poet
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
We create our fate every day … most of the ills we suffer from are directly traceable to our own behavior.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist, Painter
Mental health problems do not affect three or four out of every five persons, but one out of one.
—Karl Menninger (1893–1990) American Psychiatrist
Health is the soul that animates all the enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless without it.
—William Temple
It’s not the work which kills people, it’s the worry. It’s not the revolution that destroys machinery it’s the friction.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Protestant Clergyman, Social Reformer, Abolitionist
A wise physician is a John Baptist, who recognizes that his only mission is to prepare the way for a greater than himself — Nature.
—Arthur Sherburne Hardy (1847–1930) American Engineer, Educator, Editor, Diplomat, Novelist, Poet
Happiness lies, first of all, in health.
—George William Curtis (1824–92) American Essayist, Public Speaker, Editor, Author
Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Think of only three things: your God, your family and the Green Bay Packers — in that order.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
A bodily disease, which we look upon as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part.
—Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804–64) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804–81) British Head of State
When we are well, we all have good advice for those who are ill.
—Terence (c.195–159 BCE) Roman Comic Dramatist
Treat your body like a temple, not a woodshed. The mind and body work together. Your body needs to be a good support system for the mind and spirit. If you take good care of it, your body can take you wherever you want to go, with the power and strength and energy and vitality you will need to get there.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it is for. Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
You can set yourself up to be sick, or you can choose to stay well.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat