[Points: What the saying means—life of a man broken in health compared with that of a healthy man—how to preserve health regular physical exercise—proper food—regular habits.]
Wealth generally means a thing that has some money value. But in a wider sense it means everything that is regarded as valuable and good. In this sense, health also is wealth, perhaps the most precious wealth.
Let us examine the statement. The life of a man broken in health is a burden to him. He finds no interest and no joy in life. He may have immense riches, but they do not bring him any happiness. His cook may prepare rich and tempting dishes, but he cannot taste them. Physical sufferings brought on by ill health leave him in no mood to enjoy beautiful sights and sounds. He may have intelligence and learning, but he cannot use them either for his own benefit or for the benefit of others. Now consider the case of a poor but healthy man.
He relishes his food, however poor, and derives benefit from it. His movements are brisk and active, and he can work hard. No physical suffering stands in the way of his enjoying the beauties of Nature and entertaining scenes, It is, therefore, the duty of all to take care of this precious treasure their health. There are certain general means to preserve it. The most important is physical exercise. It keeps the body and the brain in proper working condition.
So one can go through one's works, physical and mental, without feeling any strain. The next thing necessary for sound health is proper food. This does not mean that the food should be rich and expensive. In fact, such food is rather injurious to health. Good health requires that we should take only such food as we can easily digest and as keeps us fit.
Another thing necessary for health is regular habits. We should not go to extremes in anything, whether in eating or in taking physical exercise. "Too much of anything is bad"--so runs a proverb. Boyhood and youth are the times to build up health. In the natural vigour of their age, boys and girls and young people may not feel the consequences of their neglect of health. But sooner or later the lesson will be brought home to them, and they will have to repent.
