--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better to hunt in fields, for health…" description: "\"Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg" --- # Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee… ![“Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.” quote by John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg) > “Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.” [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical health is best maintained through natural means like exercise rather than relying on costly medical treatments. **In simple terms:** Exercise is healthier than medicine. Key Takeaway Prioritize movement over medication. Themes health exercise self‑reliance Mood reflective motivational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal fitness - chronic illness management - budget health care Key Concepts natural healing preventive care Questions to Reflect On - Can you balance exercise with needed medical care? - When is professional help essential? A Different Perspective May overlook necessary medical interventions for serious conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doctors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctors/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Exercise and fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise-and-fitness/) [Exercise and health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise-and-health/) [Exercise health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise-health/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health and fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-and-fitness/) [Health fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-fitness/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Physical activity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-activity/) [Physical exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-exercise/) [Physical fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-fitness/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Any workout which does not involve a certain minimum of danger or responsibility does not improve the body - it just wears it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/any-workout-which-does-not-involve-a-certain-minimum-of-danger-or/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [I am pushing sixty. That is enough exercise for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-am-pushing-sixty-that-is-enough-exercise-for-me/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [There is a necessity for a regulating discipline of exercise that, whilst evoking the human energies, will not suffer them to be wasted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/there-is-a-necessity-for-a-regulating-discipline-of-exercise-that/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [It is exercise alone that supports the spirits, and keeps the mind in vigor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/it-is-exercise-alone-that-supports-the-spirits-and-keeps-the-mind-in/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Physical fitness can neither be acquired by wishful thinking nor by outright purchase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pilates/physical-fitness-can-neither-be-acquired-by-wishful-thinking-nor-by/) [Joseph Pilates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pilates/) > [There are no limits. 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We're talking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-of-us-think-we-don-t-have-enough-time-to-exercise-what-a/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of all the exercises walking is the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-sovereign-invigorator-of-the-body-is-exercise-and-of-all-the/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Exercise and application produce order in our affairs, health of body, cheerfulness of mind, and these make us precious to our friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/exercise-and-application-produce-order-in-our-affairs-health-of-body/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Patients should have rest, food, fresh air, and exercise - the quadrangle of health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/patients-should-have-rest-food-fresh-air-and-exercise-the-quadrangle/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [Pinkathon has carved a niche of being more than a marathon. Pinkathon forever training has created a culture of regular exercise and fitness which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milind-soman/pinkathon-has-carved-a-niche-of-being-more-than-a-marathon-pinkathon/) [Milind Soman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milind-soman/) ## More by John Dryden > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Trust on and think To-morrow will repay; To-morrow's falser than the former day; Lies worse; and while it says, we shall be blest With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/trust-on-and-think-to-morrow-will-repay-to-morrow-s-falser-than-the/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Among our crimes oblivion may be set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/among-our-crimes-oblivion-may-be-set/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [And after hearing what our Church can say, If still our reason runs another way, That private reason 'tis more just to curb, Than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/and-after-hearing-what-our-church-can-say-if-still-our-reason-runs/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave deserves the fair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/happy-happy-happy-pair-none-but-the-brave-deserves-the-fair/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [A coward is the kindest animal; 'Tis the most forgiving creature in a fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/a-coward-is-the-kindest-animal-tis-the-most-forgiving-creature-in-a/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [God never made his work for man to mend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/god-never-made-his-work-for-man-to-mend/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Reason to rule, mercy to forgive: The first is law, the last prerogative. Life is an adventure in forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/reason-to-rule-mercy-to-forgive-the-first-is-law-the-last-prerogative/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Stiff opinion, always in the wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/stiff-opinion-always-in-the-wrong/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [He with a graceful pride, While his rider every hand survey'd, Sprung loose, and flew into an escapade; Not moving forward, yet with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/he-with-a-graceful-pride-while-his-rider-every-hand-survey-d-sprung/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/men-s-virtues-i-have-commended-as-freely-as-i-have-taxed-their-crimes/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/virtue-without-success-is-a-fair-picture-shown-by-an-ill-light-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [Zeal, the blind conductor of the will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/zeal-the-blind-conductor-of-the-will/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [“Night came, but unattended with repose. Alone she came, no sleep their eyes to close. Alone and black she came; no friendly stars arose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/night-came-but-unattended-with-repose-alone-she-came-no-sleep-their/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) [Explore all 520 John Dryden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) ## More Cures quotes > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Jesus never met a disease he could not cure, a birth defect he could not reverse, a demon he could not exorcise. But he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/jesus-never-met-a-disease-he-could-not-cure-a-birth-defect-he-could/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [It is some alleviation to ills we cannot cure to speak of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/it-is-some-alleviation-to-ills-we-cannot-cure-to-speak-of-them/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Being single isnt the cause of loneliness, and marriage is not necessarily the cure. There are many lonely married people as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-jones/being-single-isnt-the-cause-of-loneliness-and-marriage-is-not/) Renee Jones > [We know nothing of the principle of health, the positive of which pathology is the negative, except from observation and experience. And nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-nightingale/we-know-nothing-of-the-principle-of-health-the-positive-of-which/) [Florence Nightingale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-nightingale/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [Arise Evans had a fungous nose, and said, it was revealed to him, that the King's hand would cure him, and at the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/arise-evans-had-a-fungous-nose-and-said-it-was-revealed-to-him-that/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [In the history of man it has been very generally the case that when evils have grown insufferable they have touched the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/in-the-history-of-man-it-has-been-very-generally-the-case-that-when/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [“Suckers think that you cure greed with money, addiction with substances, expert problems with experts, banking with bankers, economics with economists, and debt crises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/suckers-think-that-you-cure-greed-with-money-addiction-with/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [A lean purse is easier to cure than to endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-s-clason/a-lean-purse-is-easier-to-cure-than-to-endure/) [George S. Clason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-s-clason/) > [Physicians, when the cause of disease is discovered, consider that the cure is discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/physicians-when-the-cause-of-disease-is-discovered-consider-that-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I think self-deprecation is such a disease, and I want to cure everybody of it and so that's my contribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-think-self-deprecation-is-such-a-disease-and-i-want-to-cure/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [Care is no cure, but rather corrosive, For things that are not to be remedied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/care-is-no-cure-but-rather-corrosive-for-things-that-are-not-to-be/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) Browse all 1,511 Cures quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Dryden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbought-than-fee-the-doctor-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cures" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbought-than-fee-the-doctor-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/john-dryden-491_cures_better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbo_1122419.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better to hunt in fields, for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught, The wise, for…” — John Dryden", "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": "John Dryden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Better to hunt in fields, for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbought-than-fee-the-doctor-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/better-to-hunt-in-fields-for-health-unbought-than-fee-the-doctor-for/#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 } } ] } ```