The ancient Romans had an adage: Mens sana in corpore sano—“a sound mind in a sound body.” Some philosophers of the Roman Empire held this up as an ideal for developing a balanced and fulfilling life.
In modern research we often see a similar pattern. On average, more intelligent people are somewhat more likely to practice effective health habits—eating adequate amounts of protein, vegetables, and fruit, and exercising regularly. Of course, this is only a general tendency and there are many exceptions, but those who consistently practice responsible health habits are often among the more thoughtful and disciplined members of our species.
Another trait commonly associated with higher intelligence is the ability to postpone gratification, particularly in money management. Those who restrain their spending in order to invest in assets—such as a home, stocks, bonds, or other vehicles that increase net worth—tend to be thinking long-term. By the time they approach retirement, they are more likely to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle without constant anxiety about where they will live or how they will pay their bills.
A similar long-range perspective appears in career development. Those who pursue higher education or learn a useful trade with the goal of building a stable career often come from the upper ranges of the intelligence distribution. Without a marketable skill, life can become a far greater struggle.
It is interesting how often people who are vigilant about their health are also vigilant about their finances and their careers. In large part this reflects the same underlying trait: discipline. The people who have the discipline to do push-ups, control their spending, and eat responsibly are the same people who can postpone immediate gratification in the interest of long-term benefit.
I once saw this point illustrated vividly while conducting financial-management workshops for the Toronto Stock Exchange. During one session I showed a graph demonstrating how money grows exponentially when invested over time. A participant—a man in his mid-fifties—raised his hand and asked, “Why didn’t someone show me this when I was twenty?”
I replied, “Would you have listened?”
The room burst out laughing, because we all knew the answer. When we are twenty, the future seems very far away and immediate pleasures feel far more urgent.
The strange thing about wisdom is that it often arrives at precisely the moment when we realize we should have started earlier.
