Health is wealth
Meaning
Good physical and mental well-being is the most valuable asset a person can possess, surpassing material riches.
Origin
The profound truth that health eclipses all other possessions has resonated with humanity since ancient times. This timeless wisdom found expression in various cultures, long before it solidified into the crisp English idiom we know today. Ancient Roman philosophers, for instance, championed the concept with sayings like “Mens sana in corpore sano” (a sound mind in a sound body), directly linking physical well-being to intellectual vitality. While the exact phrase “Health is Wealth” became a popular proverb in English by the 17th century, famously appearing in collections of English proverbs, it wasn't a novel idea but rather the eloquent encapsulation of a perennial human truth. It serves as a persistent reminder that no gold or silver can restore what a healthy body and mind freely offer.
Examples
- After years of prioritizing his career over everything, he finally understood that health is wealth and started making time for exercise and proper meals.
- Despite her vast fortune, the heiress often remarked, 'Health is wealth,' as she battled a persistent illness.