The great equalizer is health. If you don't have it, you're

“The great equalizer is health. If you don’t have it, you’re screwed.” — Jami Gertz

Hear now the straightforward yet profound words of Jami Gertz, whose simple phrase contains the gravity of ancient truth. In this saying, she declares that health is the great equalizer, the one force that renders kings and beggars alike powerless in its absence. Her words, though cast in the tongue of the modern age, echo the wisdom of centuries: that no wealth, fame, or intellect can shield one from the ruin that comes when the body and mind fall into disrepair. Health is the foundation upon which every dream, every achievement, every joy of living is built. Without it, all the world’s riches crumble to dust.

The origin of this quote lies in the lived experience of Gertz, an actress and philanthropist whose life has spanned both privilege and challenge. Through her journey, she witnessed how illness and frailty humble even the most powerful, how health—that invisible companion we so often take for granted—can be lost in a moment, leaving everything else meaningless. Her words are not those of despair, but of awakening: a reminder that before we chase ambition, we must guard the vessel through which all ambition flows. The greatest tragedy, she implies, is not the loss of fortune or fame, but the loss of the ability to stand, breathe, and live without pain.

In her phrase, Gertz captures a truth known to the ancients. The philosopher Herophilus, among the first physicians of Greece, once declared: “When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied.” Even in that early age, the sages knew that health is the root from which all other virtues grow. The healthy body is the fertile soil of creativity and courage, while the diseased one is the barren field where dreams go to die. Thus, to neglect the body—to eat carelessly, to rest poorly, to live in imbalance—is to gamble with destiny itself.

Consider, O listener, the story of Emperor Charles V, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire. He commanded armies, shaped nations, and possessed more gold than most could imagine. Yet as age and illness crept upon him—gout gnawing at his limbs, fatigue clouding his mind—he discovered that all his power could not buy relief. His palaces became prisons, his meals turned bitter, and his wealth, once a blessing, mocked him with its uselessness. At last, he abandoned his throne and retired to a monastery, seeking peace that his empire could never give. In his decline we see the truth of Gertz’s words: without health, all crowns are hollow.

And yet, health is not merely the absence of disease; it is the harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Gertz’s warning extends beyond the flesh—it speaks also to mental health, to emotional resilience, and to the balance of one’s inner world. For there are those who appear whole in body but are broken in spirit, consumed by stress, greed, or loneliness. Such people are no less “screwed,” as she boldly puts it, than those afflicted with physical illness. True health is the ability to rise each morning with strength, clarity, and gratitude—to move through the world with energy and peace. It is not perfection, but equilibrium.

Her words also serve as a call to humility. In a world divided by wealth and privilege, health reminds us that all are equal before the laws of life. No amount of influence can silence the heartbeat, no measure of fame can command the breath. Health belongs to the realm of nature, not man; it must be earned through care, not purchased with coin. The body, like the earth, demands respect. To abuse it is to court ruin; to honor it is to invite abundance. Gertz’s message is a mirror held before us all: the billionaire and the laborer alike are brought to the same reckoning when their health fails.

Let this be the lesson: treasure your health as the greatest possession, for it is the cornerstone upon which all else rests. Nourish your body with simplicity, your mind with quiet, your soul with gratitude. Walk, breathe, laugh, and rest as though each act were sacred. Guard against excess, for indulgence poisons slowly; guard against neglect, for idleness decays the spirit. Do not wait until sickness reminds you of what was lost—live now in the discipline of care. For when the body thrives, the heart dares, and the spirit soars.

Therefore, O child of the living world, heed the wisdom of Jami Gertz: health is the one power that belongs to all, yet is cherished by few. It cannot be inherited or stolen; it must be cultivated with reverence. All dreams, all wealth, all purpose rise and fall upon it. Lose it, and you lose everything. Keep it, and even the smallest life shines with majesty. For in health lies freedom — and in freedom, the fullness of being alive.