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
A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.
—Hippocrates (460–370 BCE) Ancient Greek Physician
Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
In a disordered mind, as in a disordered body, soundness of health is impossible.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Disease makes men more physical; it leaves them with nothing but body.
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German Novelist, Short Story Writer, Social Critic, Philanthropist, Essayist
Everyone who is born holds dual citizenship, in the kingdom of the well and in the kingdom of the sick. Although we all prefer to use only the good passport, sooner or later each of us is obliged, at least for a spell, to identify ourselves as citizens of that other place.
—Susan Sontag (1933–2004) American Writer, Philosopher
Anguish of mind has driven thousands to suicide; anguish of body, none. This proves that the health of the mind is of far more consequence to our happiness than the health of the body, although both are deserving of much more attention than either receives.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Time And health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.
—Denis Waitley (b.1933) American Motivational Speaker, Author
My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-three today and we don’t know where the hell she is.
—Ellen DeGeneres (b.1958) American Comedian, Television Host
He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything.
—Arabic Proverb
Never hurry; take plenty of exercise; always be cheerful, and take all the sleep you need, and you may expect to be well.
—James Freeman Clarke (1810–88) American Unitarian Clergyman, Abolitionist, Author
Physick, for the most part, is nothing else but the Substitute of Exercise or Temperance.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Ill-health of body or of mind, is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
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
The I in illness is isolation, and the crucial letters in wellness are we.
—Unknown
I have learned to use the word impossible with the greatest caution.
—Wernher von Braun (1912–77) German-born American Engineer, Scientist
Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow up.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
A man is a method, a progressive arrangement; a selecting principle, gathering his like unto him wherever he goes. What you are comes to you.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
There is a certain state of health that does not allow us to understand everything; and perhaps illness shuts us off from certain truths; but health shuts us off just as effectively from others.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
In these days, half our diseases come from the neglect of the body in the over work of the brain. In this railway age, the wear and tear of labor and intellect go on without pause or self-pity. We live longer than our forefathers; but we suffer more from a thousand artificial anxieties and cares. They fatigued only the muscles, we exhaust the finer strength of the nerves.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors.
—Chinese Proverb
Health is the condition of wisdom, and the sign is cheerfulness—an open and noble temper.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Sleep is a healing balm for every ill.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
What we prepare for is what we shall get.
—William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) American Polymath, Academic, Historian, Sociologist, Anthropologist
The preservation of health is a duty. Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality.
—Herbert Spencer (1820–1903) English Polymath, Philosopher, Sociologist, Political Theorist
In passing, also, I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on woman.
—Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor (1879–1964) American-born British Politician
A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
A good health policy is based on three principles. Unfortunately, nobody knows them.
—Gerhard Kocher (b.1939) Swiss Publicist, Aphorist
The most important thing in illness is never to lose heart.
—Vladimir Lenin (1870–1924) Russian Revolutionary Leader