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Ah! what avail the largest gifts of Heaven,
When drooping health and spirits go amiss?
How tasteless then whatever can be given!
Health is the vital principle of bliss,
And exercise, of health.

— James Thomson The Castle of Indolence (1748)

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More quotes by James Thomson

They who are pleased themselves must always please.

The Castle of Indolence (1748)

He ceased; but still their trembling ears retained
The deep vibrations of his witching song.

The Castle of Indolence (1748)

O fair undress, best dress! it checks no vein,
But every flowing limb in pleasure drowns,
And heightens ease with grace.

The Castle of Indolence (1748)

Why should we kill the best of passions, love?
It aids the hero, bids ambition rise
To nobler heights, inspires immortal deeds,
Even softens brutes, and adds a grace to virtue.

More firm and sure the hand of courage strikes, when it obeys the watchful eye of caution.

All James Thomson quotes →

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment is the greatest wealth, a trusted friend is the best relative, Nibbana is the greatest bliss.

Gautama Buddha

Not for the body, but for the heart; companion and company are needed.

Sanu Sharma

Enlighten the people generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.

Thomas Jefferson

Every morning
I wake up with the news
of bloodshed.
I feel my body,
desperate to know whether
I’m still alive.

Suman Pokhrel

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: James Thomson (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.