Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself. Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle at the onset.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
The human body was designed to walk, run or stop; it wasn’t built for coasting.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
Fond of doctors, little health, Fond of lawyers, little wealth
—Common Proverb
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
Minor surgery is surgery someone else is having.
—Unknown
If you expect nothing, you’re apt to be surprised. You’ll get it.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
A long, healthy, and happy life is the result of making contributions, of having meaningful projects that are personally exciting and contribute to and bless the lives of others.
—Stephen Covey (1932–2012) American Self-help Author
If by gaining knowledge we destroy our health, we labour for a thing that will be useless in our hands.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
Youths will never live to age unless they keep themselves in breath by exercise, and in heart by joyfulness. Too much thinking doth consume the spirits; and oft it falls out, that while one thinks too much of doing, he fails to do the effect of his thinking.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Self-image sets the boundaries of individual accomplishment.
—Maxwell Maltz (1899–1975) American Surgeon, Motivational Writer
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
First need in the reform of hospital management? That’s easy! The death of all dietitians, and the resurrection of a French chef.
—Martin H. Fischer
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
Diseases crucify the soul of man, attenuate our bodies, dry them, wither them, rivel them up like old apples, make them as so many Anatomies.
—Robert Burton (1577–1640) English Scholar, Clergyman
If you would live in health, be old early.
—Spanish Proverb
Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the laborer, unless under compulsion from society
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
Without health, life is not life; it is only a state of languour and suffering-an image of death.
—Francois Rabelais (1494–1553) French Humanist, Satirist
Regimen is better than physic. Every one should be his own physician.—We should assist, not force nature.—Eat with moderation what you know by experience agrees with your constitution.—Nothing is good for the body but what we can digest.—What can procure digestion?—Exercise.—What will recruit strength?—Sleep.—What will alleviate incurable evils?—Patience.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
An imaginary ailment is worse than a disease.
—Yiddish Proverb
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
A healthy body is a guest-chamber for the soul; a sick body is a prison.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Persistent prophecy is a familiar way of assuring the event.
—George Gissing (1857–1903) English Novelist
There’s lots of people in this world who spend so much time watching their health that they haven’t the time to enjoy it.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
By the time we’ve made it, we’ve had it.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
If one asks for success and prepares for failure, he will get the situation he has prepared for.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
Sickness is the vengeance of nature for the violation of her laws.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
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 sound mind in a sound body; if the former be the glory of the latter, the latter is indispensable to the former.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
I cannot discover that anyone knows enough to say definitely what is and what is not possible.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
Every noble work is at first impossible.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, 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
If you prepare for old age, old age comes sooner.
—Unknown
Our body is a machine for living. It is organized for that, it is its nature. Let life go on in it unhindered and let it defend itself, it will do more than if you paralyze it by encumbering it with remedies.
—Leo Tolstoy (1828–1910) Russian Novelist
Nature, time and patience are the three great physicians.
—Common Proverb
Health is the first muse, and sleep is the condition to produce it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To wish to be well is a part of becoming well.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
Think of only three things: your God, your family and the Green Bay Packers—in that order.
—Vince Lombardi (1913–70) American Football Coach
In order to change, we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired.
—Unknown
The health of nations is more important than the wealth of nations.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
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
All bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Health of body and mind is a great blessing, if we can bear it.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
We are usually the best men when in the worst health.
—English Proverb
Half of the modern drugs could well be thrown out of the window, except that the birds might eat them.
—Martin H. Fischer
With stupidity and sound digestion man may front much.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
—Common Proverb
The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
It’s bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children’s health than the pediatrician.
—Meryl Streep (b.1949) American Actor
If the pain wanders, do not waste your time with doctors.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author