Mens sana in corpore sano

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Mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body) is a famous Latin quotation, often translated as "A sound mind in a sound body." It is derived from Satire X of the Roman poet Juvenal (10.356). In context, the phrase is part of the author’s answer to the question of what people should desire in life:

It is to be prayed that the mind be sound in a sound body. Ask for a brave soul that lacks the fear of death, which places the length of life last among nature’s blessings, which is able to bear whatever kind of sufferings, does not know anger, lusts for nothing and believes the hardships and savage labors of Hercules better than the satisfactions, feasts, and feather bed of an Eastern king. I will reveal what you are able to give yourself; For certain, the one footpath of a tranquil life lies through virtue.

orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano. fortem posce animum mortis terrore carentem, qui spatium uitae extremum inter munera ponat naturae, qui ferre queat quoscumque labores, nesciat irasci, cupiat nihil et potiores Herculis aerumnas credat saeuosque labores et uenere et cenis et pluma Sardanapalli. monstro quod ipse tibi possis dare; semita certe tranquillae per uirtutem patet unica uitae. (10.356-64)

The satirical connotation of the phrase, that it would be nice to also have a sound mind in a sound body, is a more recent interpretation of what Juvenal intended to express. Juvenal's intention was to remind those of his fellow Roman citizen who uttered foolish prayers that all that should be prayed for were physical and spiritual health. Over time and separated from its context, the phrase has come to have a range of meanings. It can be construed to mean that only a healthy body can produce or sustain a healthy mind. Its most general usage is to express the concept of a healthy balance in one’s mode of life.

The phrase is foreshadowed by (if not an actual paraphrase from) a saying of Thales.

[edit] See also

• This phrase was a favorite of American President Harry S. Truman.
• Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia uses the phrase as its motto.
• R.S.C. Anderlecht, uses the phrase as its motto.
• Teacher's College of Columbia University has this phrase engraved on its Horace Mann hall, on 120th street in New York City.
• ASICS, company name derived from the phrase.
• Carlton Football Club, uses the phrase as its motto.
• Army Physical Training Corps (APTC), uses the phrase as its motto.
• Asociacion Atletica Argentinos Juniors, uses the phrase as its motto.
• The Israeli Institute of Technology athletics teams use the phrase as their motto.
• PERI (Physical Education & Recreation Instructors), which is part of the Canadian Military use this as their motto
• Widener University and the State University at of New York at Buffalo use the phrase as their motto.