I was taught that "mens sana in corpore sano" translates from Latin as "a healthy mind in a healthy body".

The intended meaning here is that only a healthy body can support a healthy mind, so we should strive to keep our bodies in top condition.

This made sense to me, but it seemed nothing extraordinarily special; just another Latin saying.

Prior to writing this article I briefly researched the subject; it turns out that "mens sana in corpore sano" is taken out of context, and the whole sentence is "Orandum est ut sit mens sana in corpore sano."

Now, this is something completely different. It translates as "You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body."

A balanced meaning would be "You should strive for both a healthy mind and a healthy body", but it could also mean "It's no use to have a healthy body if your mind is not healthy."

Yet, my first association with "mens sana in corpore sano" is a third interpretation: My mind automatically completes it as "Mens sana in corpore sano. We have her at last!"

(Chapterhouse: Dune by Frank Herbert, page 280 in my copy.)

For me, "mens sana in corpore sano" is a sharp call for personal perfection; finding limits and moving beyond them; developing a powerful and beautiful personal presence.