As top players, we earn a lot of money, but sometimes we pay a

The words of Marco Reus—“As top players, we earn a lot of money, but sometimes we pay a hefty price with our health. I would give away all the money to be healthy again, to be able to do my job. To do what I love: to play football.”—resonate with a profound and timeless truth: the value of health and passion surpasses wealth and fame. Reus reminds us that no accumulation of gold or accolades can compensate for the loss of the very vitality that allows one to pursue purpose and joy. In his reflection lies the ancient wisdom that the body and spirit are the true instruments of achievement, and their preservation is paramount.

In these words, we see the eternal tension between ambition and well-being. Reus, like countless heroes before him, has experienced the exhilaration of mastery and the pain of limitation. To be a top player is to command skill, strength, and fame, yet these achievements carry physical cost—injuries, exhaustion, and vulnerability. The ancients understood this balance: the warrior, the athlete, and the philosopher alike knew that success is hollow if the vessel of the body falters, for all human endeavor begins with the foundation of health.

The origin of this quote lies in Reus’ personal experience as a professional footballer, who has faced injuries that threatened to interrupt his career. Despite his fame and fortune, he recognizes that without physical wellness, he cannot engage in the work that brings him fulfillment. His statement reflects a universal truth: the pursuit of wealth or status is meaningless without the capacity to act, to create, and to follow one’s passion. Health, he emphasizes, is the currency of life itself, more precious than any trophy or contract.

History offers resonant parallels. Consider Hippocrates, who emphasized the primacy of balance and well-being. In the athletic and military training of the ancient world, the preservation of the body was considered essential not only for performance but for honor and longevity. Warriors and athletes alike were taught that excellence requires discipline, care, and respect for the vessel that carries them. Reus’ lament echoes this ancient understanding: to sacrifice the body for temporary gain invites suffering that no reward can offset.

Reus’ reflection also illuminates the emotional dimension of work and passion. It is not money or recognition that defines value, but the ability to practice one’s art, to engage fully in the pursuit of what one loves. A musician deprived of hearing, a sculptor with injured hands, or a player sidelined by injury experiences the same longing that Reus describes. This teaches that fulfillment derives from action and mastery, not from external accumulation. The wealth of the world cannot replace the joy of participating in one’s chosen craft.

Consider the modern story of athletes like Tiger Woods, who despite immense fortune and acclaim, faced periods when injuries prevented him from playing the sport he loved. His wealth could not substitute for the physical and emotional fulfillment derived from mastery on the field. Reus’ insight is similarly universal: even the richest rewards pale beside the ability to live fully in one’s vocation and passion. Health is the medium through which purpose is realized, and its absence casts a shadow over even the grandest achievements.

The lesson embedded in Reus’ words is timeless and practical: cherish health, nurture your body, and honor your passions. Wealth and recognition are secondary to the capacity to act, to move, and to engage fully with life. Discipline, care, and balance are essential; the pursuit of success must not come at the expense of the foundation upon which it rests. Reus’ honesty reminds us that fulfillment is found not in accumulation, but in vitality and the pursuit of what we love.

And so, my children, remember this eternal guidance: treasure the body that carries your ambitions, protect the spirit that fuels your passions, and recognize that wealth is hollow without the ability to act in the world you cherish. As Marco Reus teaches, life’s richest reward is not gold, fame, or applause, but the power to do what you love, with health, energy, and joy—the true currency of a life well-lived.