Mens sana in corpore sano

Mens sana in corpore sano (a sound mind in a healthy body) is a famous Latin quotation, often translated as, "A sound mind in a sound body." There is also a sports equipment company, Asics, with the name based on a twist of this quotation. "Asics" is an acronym of the Latin phrase, "anima sana in corpore sano," which translates to "Healthy Soul in a Healthy Body". It is derived from the aphorism, "Mens sana in corpore sano" or the saying of the pre-Socratic Greek philosopher Thales, "Νοῦς ὑγιὴς ἐν σώματι ὑγιεῖ".

History

The phrase 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. The full answer consists of a long list of things:

English translation: 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 ultimate 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.

Latin version: 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. –Roman poet Juvenal (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 may have intended to express. More traditional commentators believe that Juvenal's intention was to remind those of his fellow Roman citizens who uttered foolish prayers that all that should be prayed for were physical and mental 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.

Usages

• Usage in film, television, plays, and fiction
  • Anton Chekhov quotes the phrase in his short story, "The Black Monk", as well as in his play Three Sisters.
  • Used in the film Agantuk by Satyajit Ray.
  • Used in the 1961 film Victim by Basil Dearden.
  • Used in short story "Zack" by Nigel Puerasch.
  • In Max Frisch's play Andorra (play), the character of the Doctor quotes the phrase to Andri.
  • "Mens Sana" used as an episode title for British television series Dalziel and Pascoe (ep. 7.2). The full line was quoted by one of the characters.
  • Aldous Huxley refers to the phrase in his novel Island (novel)
  • Frank Herbert used the phrase in his novel Chapterhouse: Dune.

• Usage in other writings
  • John Locke (1632–1704) uses the phrase in his book Some thoughts concerning education.
  • Heinrich von Treitschke used this phrase in his work titled, "The Army". He uses the phrase to highlight a sound principle of his German nationalistic doctrine. His work echoes the principles of late nineteenth century Prussian society.

• Usage as the motto of athletic clubs:
  • Club de Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata
  • Georgetown Hoyas
  • R.S.C. Anderlecht
  • The Turners Organization American Turners and their local organizations like the Los Angeles turners.
  • Carlton Football Club
  • Asociacion Atletica Argentinos Juniors
  • The Israeli Institute of Technology athletics teams
  • Mens Sana Basket
  • Beale Gaelic Football Club from County Kerry
  • Torrens Rowing Club

• Usage as the motto of military institutions:
  • Royal Marines physical training instructors (PTI).
  • Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia
  • Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia
  • Army Physical Training Corps (APTC)
  • PERI (Physical Education & Recreation Instructors), which is part of the Canadian Military

• Usage as the motto of educational institutions:
  • Hiranandani Foundation School, Mumbai, India
  • Rosario High School, Mangalore, India
  • Teacher's College of Columbia University has this phrase engraved on its Horace Mann hall, on 120th Street in New York City
  • The University College London Mens Rugby Football Club, Based out of the Bloomsbury in London
  • Grant Medical College and Sir J.J. Hospital, Mumbai
  • Widener University and the State University of New York at Buffalo
  • The phrase appears in stone on the western facade of the HPER (School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation) at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
  • The phrase appears in stone on above the entranceway to the Athletic Center at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick
  • Dhaka Physical Education College in Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Sparta High School in Sparta, New Jersey
  • Charleston Female Seminary
  • Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan
  • Erskine Academy in South China, Maine
  • Roger Bacon High School, St. Bernard, Ohio
  • Bjelke-Petersen School of Physical Culture, Australia
  • Bridgewater Junior Senior High School in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia
  • Kongsbakken videregående skole in Tromsø, Norway
  • Lakefield College School in Lakefield, Canada
  • Polish Association of Sport named SOKÓŁ before World War I. Poland, Galicja in that time Austria
  • The Internado Nacional Barros Arana in Santiago, Chile.
  • Albert Einstein School in Cotabato (Philippines)

• Usage in other cases
  • The phrase was a favorite of Harry S. Truman former President of the United States of America.
  • ASICS company name derived from the phrase.
  • Mensa, the High IQ Society, derives its name both from the Latin word for table, "mensa" as well as a pun on the phrase "mens sana".

See also

• Clear Body, Clear Mind