Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.

The saying contrasts bodily decline through inactivity with the restorative power of regular, disciplined movement. In Platonic terms, it aligns with a broader Greek ideal of harmonizing body and soul through ordered habits: health is not merely a natural gift but something maintained by regimen (askēsis) and moderation. The emphasis on “methodical” exercise suggests that random exertion is less valuable than structured practice—training that cultivates steadiness, self-control, and resilience. Read this way, the line functions both as practical health counsel and as a moral metaphor: without purposeful activity, human capacities atrophy; with sustained, orderly practice, they are preserved.