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Mens sana in corpore sano
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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:
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The original connotation of the phrase is that health of mind and body is good in itself and something to be rightly desired, as opposed to beauty, wealth, or power. 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.
- 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.
- 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.