--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy…" description: "\"Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the wonderful Works of God? labour in the first place ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg" --- # Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a… ![“Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the wonderful Works of God? labour in the first place to bring thy Appetite into Subjection to Reason.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg) > “Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the wonderful Works of God? labour in the first place to bring thy Appetite into Subjection to Reason.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A balanced life of health, mind, and spiritual awareness requires mastering desires through rational control. **In simple terms:** Control desires with reason for a balanced life. Key Takeaway Cultivate reason to guide appetite. Themes health mind spirituality self‑discipline Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - daily habits - spiritual practice Key Concepts Rationalism Stoicism holistic well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you apply reason to modern temptations? - What role does faith play in your well‑being? A Different Perspective Reason alone cannot guarantee happiness; external circumstances matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Bring Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-thy-3079464/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Healthy body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-body/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Poor richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-richard/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Subjection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subjection/) [Thou Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-enjoy-4045686/) [Thy Appetite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy-appetite-2247573/) [Vigorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigorous/) [Vigorous Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigorous-mind-279278/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [Wouldst Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wouldst-thou-2431488/) ## Related quotes > [Govern well thy appetite, lest Sin surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/govern-well-thy-appetite-lest-sin-surprise-thee-and-her-black/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [“Lord, whatsoever this day may bring, Thy name be praised. Be gracious unto me and help me. Grant me strength to bear whatsoever Thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/lord-whatsoever-this-day-may-bring-thy-name-be-praised-be-gracious/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [If thou art something bring thy soul and interchange with mine. - Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-schiller/if-thou-art-something-bring-thy-soul-and-interchange-with-mine-johann/) [Friedrich Schiller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-schiller/) > [Sit not down without assurance. Get alone, and bring thy heart to the bar of trial; force it to answer the interrogatories put to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/sit-not-down-without-assurance-get-alone-and-bring-thy-heart-to-the-2/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed...the habits of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/it-is-not-in-the-still-calm-of-life-or-the-repose-of-a-pacific-2/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [ “\[...\] the diversity of our opinions, consequently, does not arise from some being endowed with a larger share of reason than others, but solely… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/the-diversity-of-our-opinions-consequently-does-not-arise-from-some/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/for-to-be-possessed-of-a-vigorous-mind-is-not-enough-the-prime-2/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [It is not the delicate neurotic person who is prone to angina, but the robust, the vigorous in mind and body, the keen and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/it-is-not-the-delicate-neurotic-person-who-is-prone-to-angina-but-the/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [The passion of self-aggrandizement is persistent but plastic; it will never disappear from a vigorous mind, but may become morally higher by attaching itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-horton-cooley/the-passion-of-self-aggrandizement-is-persistent-but-plastic-it-will/) [Charles Horton Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-horton-cooley/) > [“For to be possessed of a vigorous mind is not enough; the prime requisite is rightly to apply it. The greatest minds, as they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/for-to-be-possessed-of-a-vigorous-mind-is-not-enough-the-prime/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-fontaine/a-cheerful-mind-is-a-vigorous-mind/) [Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-fontaine/) > [The habits of a vigorous mind are born in contending with difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/the-habits-of-a-vigorous-mind-are-born-in-contending-with-difficulties/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/curiosity-is-one-of-the-permanent-and-certain-characteristics-of-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-adams/these-are-the-times-in-which-a-genius-would-wish-to-live-it-is-not-in/) [Abigail Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-adams/) > [“It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/it-is-not-in-the-still-calm-of-life-or-the-repose-of-a-pacific-3/) [John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Appetite quotes > [I could not limit my values and pursuits to what makes others comfortable. Being possessed by a promise I live without options. I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/i-could-not-limit-my-values-and-pursuits-to-what-makes-others/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [the appetite for thinking must be regulated, as all sensible people know, for it may stifle one's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/the-appetite-for-thinking-must-be-regulated-as-all-sensible-people/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [“if you cannot control your hunger and appetite, good luck managing your blood chemistry, metabolism, waistline, and, in the bigger picture, the prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-perlmutter/if-you-cannot-control-your-hunger-and-appetite-good-luck-managing/) [David Perlmutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-perlmutter/) > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [My curiosity and my appetite for evolving as an actor is one of the main components of me still working today in the business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-cattrall/my-curiosity-and-my-appetite-for-evolving-as-an-actor-is-one-of-the/) [Kim Cattrall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-cattrall/) > [I have a strong appetite and its not for food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-a-strong-appetite-and-its-not-for-food/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The plain fact is that education is itself a form of propaganda - a deliberate scheme to outfit the pupil, not with the capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-plain-fact-is-that-education-is-itself-a-form-of-propaganda-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“You should also eat eggs. Not “one egg per week” or some such non-physiologic restriction. Eat what your body tells you to eat, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davis/you-should-also-eat-eggs-not-one-egg-per-week-or-some-such-non/) [William Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davis/) > [If your desires are not great, a little will seem much to you; for small appetite makes poverty equivalent to wealth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/democritus/if-your-desires-are-not-great-a-little-will-seem-much-to-you-for/) [Democritus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/democritus/) > [When passions and appetites are stronger than the intellect, men are savages; when the intellect governs the passions, when the passions are servants, men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/when-passions-and-appetites-are-stronger-than-the-intellect-men-are/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery-th e strength to place reason over appetite. Self-mastery builds a strong conscience. And your conscience determines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-m-nelson/a-pivotal-spiritual-attribute-is-that-of-self-mastery-th-e-strength/) [Russell M. Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-m-nelson/) > [The commonest and cheapest sounds, as the barking of a dog, produce the same effect on fresh and healthy ears that the rarest music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-commonest-and-cheapest-sounds-as-the-barking-of-a-dog-produce-the/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) [Browse all 994 Appetite quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appetite/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the wonderful Works of God? labour in the first place to bring thy Appetite into Subjection to Reason.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy-body-and-a-vigorous-mind-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appetite" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy-body-and-a-vigorous-mind-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a6/benjamin-franklin-65_appetite_wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy_1266694.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life, a healthy Body, and a vigorous Mind, and be acquainted also with the…” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wouldst thou enjoy a long Life,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy-body-and-a-vigorous-mind-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/wouldst-thou-enjoy-a-long-life-a-healthy-body-and-a-vigorous-mind-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```