I would not that death should take me asleep. I would not have him merely seize me, and only declare me to be dead, but win me, and overcome me. When I must shipwreck, I would do it in a sea, where mine impotency might have some excuse; not in a sullen weedy lake, where I could not have so much as exercise for my swimming.
—John Donne (1572–1631) English Poet, Cleric
I take the true definition of exercise to be, labor without weariness.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Use it or lose it.
—Jimmy Connors (b.1952) American Tennis Player
Intellectual tasting of life will not supersede muscular activity.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
In the course of heir careers in the American schools of today, most students take hundreds, if not thousands, of tests. They develop skill to a highly calibrated degree in an exercise that will essentially become useless immediately after their last day in school.
—Howard Gardner (b.1943) American Cognitive Psychologist
If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health.
—Hippocrates (460–370 BCE) Ancient Greek Physician
Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Basketball Coach, Educator
Whenever I feel like exercise I lie down until the feeling passes.
—Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899–1977) American Educational Philosopher
Exercise and temperance can preserve something of our early strength even in old age.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel…the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.
—Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906) American Civil Rights Leader
Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
To exercise some sort of control over others is the secret motive of every selfish person.
—Wallace Wattles (1860–1911) American New Thought Author
The gymnasium of running, walking on stilts, climbing, etc., steels and makes hardy single powers and muscles, but dancing, like a corporeal poesy, embellishes, exercises, and equalizes all the muscles at once.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Philosopher
Exercise is the yuppie version of bulimia.
—Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–2022) American Social Critic, Essayist
Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and your feet. It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
In general, any form of exercise, if pursued continuously, will help train us in perseverance. Long-distance running is particularly good training in perseverance.
—Mao Zedong (1893–1976) Chinese Statesman
Such is the constitution of man, that labor may be styled its own reward.—Nor will any external incitements be requisite if it be considered how much happiness is gained, and how much misery escaped, by frequent and violent agitation of the body.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Exercise: you don’t have time not to.
—Unknown
A pedestrian is a man in danger of his life. A walker is a man in possession of his soul.
—David Mccord (1897–1997) American Poet
A fat stomach never breeds fine thoughts.
—Jerome (347–420) Greek Priest, Apologist, Saint
The wise, for cure, on exercise depend.—Better to hunt in fields for health unbought than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Exercise ferments the humors, casts them into their proper channels, throws off redundancies, and helps nature in those secret distributions, without which the body cannot subsist in its vigor, nor the soul act with cheerfulness.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
I get my exercise acting as a pallbearer to my friends who exercise.
—Chauncey Depew (1834–1928) American Lawyer, Politician, Raconteur
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
—Fred Allen (1894–1956) American Comedian, Radio Personality
If you are healthy, you don’t need it: if you are sick you shouldn’t take it.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Exercise is labor without weariness.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Why do strong arms fatigue themselves with frivolous dumbbells? To dig a vineyard is worthier exercise for men.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
I don’t exercise. If God had wanted me to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor.
—Joan Rivers (1933–2014) American Comedienne, Writer
All decision-making is a values-clarifying exercise.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
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