„The ability to play is one of the principal criteria of mental health.“

„I suspect the Haitian Ministry of Health's principal contribution to health in Haiti is providing nice, healthy jobs to those Haitians with the connection to get them.“

—  P. J. O'Rourke American journalist 1947

All the Trouble in the World (1994)

„Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.“

—  B.K.S. Iyengar Indian yoga teacher and scholar 1918 - 2014

Source: Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom, p. 48

„The principle that adequate health care should be provided for all, regardless of ability to pay, must be the foundation of any arrangements for financing the Health Service.“

—  Margaret Thatcher British stateswoman and politician 1925 - 2013

Prime Minister's Questions (1 December 1981) http://www.margaretthatcher.org/document/104755
First term as Prime Minister

„How was I supposed to concentrate on my mental health when my therapist was encased in orange sparkle madness?“

—  E. Lockhart American writer of novels as E. Lockhart (mainly for teenage girls) and of picture books under real name Emily Jenkins 1967

Source: The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon—and me, Ruby Oliver

„The moment I accepted myself 100%, my mental, emotional, and physical health all improved at the same time.“

—  Ralph Smart

„In order to protect the physical hygiene and mental health of the living, we usually bury the dead.“

—  José Saramago, book All the Names

Source: All the Names (1997), p. 181

„Because these people are operating at a very very low level of mental health, they are incapable of understanding the teaching.“

—  John Cleese actor from England 1939

From Channel 4 documentary The Secret Life of Brian (2007)

„I think that people are entitled to be amused, and entertained. If they see deviations from this classical norm, it's probably good for their mental health.“

—  Frank Zappa American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and film producer 1940 - 1993

Cocaine Decisions (1983) http://youtube.com/watch?v=RDEwJ2xlSXk
Context: I'll tell you what classical music is, for those of you who don't know. Classical music is this music that was written by a bunch of dead people a long time ago. And it's formula music, the same as top forty music is formula music. In order to have a piece be classical, it has to conform to academic standards that were the current norms of that day and age … I think that people are entitled to be amused, and entertained. If they see deviations from this classical norm, it's probably good for their mental health.

„A key location for the development of general systems theory was the University of Michigan’s Mental Health Research Institute (MHRI) where General Systems, the yearbook of the Society for General Systems Research (SGSR) was based for many years. A mental health research institute may seem a peculiar place to find systems theory.“

—  Stuart A. Umpleby American scientist 1944

Source: "The origins and purposes of several traditions in systems theory and cybernetics," 1999, p. 80: About General Systems Theory

„Do all kids have to worry about their parents’ mental health? The way society is set up, parents are supposed to be the grown-up ones and look after the kids, but a lot of times it’s the other way around.“

—  Ruth Ozeki, book A Tale for the Time Being

Source: A Tale for the Time Being

„I can honestly say that my misery had been transformed into common unhappiness, so by Freud's definition I have achieved mental health.“

—  Susanna Kaysen, book Girl, Interrupted

Source: Girl, Interrupted

„I can’t see any authority on the horizon that’s got any answers that seem worthwhile. Most of the things that are suggested are probably detrimental to your mental health.“

—  Frank Zappa American musician, songwriter, composer, and record and film producer 1940 - 1993

Oui interview (1979)
Context: There’s no reason to assume that my idea of what‘s better would really be better. I resent it when other people try to inflict their ideas of betterness on me. I don’t think they know. And I can’t see any authority on the horizon that’s got any answers that seem worthwhile. Most of the things that are suggested are probably detrimental to your mental health.

„… when spirituality is misused to blame ourselves, free abusers from accountability and repress our emotions, it can become dangerous to our mental health.“

—  Shadida Arabi

„The concept of “mental health” in our society is defined largely by the extent to which an individual behaves in accord with the needs of the system and does so without showing signs of stress.“

—  Theodore Kaczynski, book Industrial Society and Its Future

"Restriction on Freedom is Unavoidable in Industrial Society", item 119
Industrial Society and Its Future (1995)

„I swear by Apollo the physician, and Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that, according to my ability and judgment, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation“

—  Hippocrates ancient Greek physician -460 - -370 BC

to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they shall wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every other mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and those of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.
Variant translation: I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant ...
As translated in The Hippocratic Oath : Text, Translation, and Interpretation (1943) , by Ludwig Edelstein.

„He who carries self-regard far enough to keep himself in good health and high spirits, in the first place thereby becomes an immediate source of happiness to those around, and in the second place maintains the ability to increase their happiness by altruistic actions. But one whose bodily vigour and mental health are undermined by self-sacrifice carried too far, in the first place becomes to those around a cause of depression, and in the second place renders himself incapable, or less capable, of actively furthering their welfare. In estimating conduct we must remember that there are those who by their joyousness beget joy in others, and that there are those who by their melancholy cast a gloom on every circle they enter.“

—  Herbert Spencer English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist 1820 - 1903

Ethics (New York:1915), § 72, pp. 193-194
The Principles of Ethics (1897), Part I: The Data of Ethics

„A lack of desire to spend money becomes a symptom of disease that requires expensive medication. Which medication then destroys the libido, in other words destroys the appetite for the one pleasure in life that's free, which means the person has to spend even more money on compensatory pleasures. The very definition of mental 'health' is the ability to participate in the consumer economy. When you buy into therapy, you're buying into buying.“

—  Jonathan Franzen, book The Corrections

The Corrections (2001)

„According to Seth, poor health is caused mainly by destructive mental feeling patterns that directly affect the body because of the particular range within the electromagnetic system in which they fall. Bad health, for example, does not happen first, resulting in unhealthy thoughts. It is the other way around.“

—  Jane Roberts American Writer 1929 - 1984

Source: Seth, Dreams & Projections of Consciousness, (1986), p. 237-238

„Health consists of having the same diseases as one’s neighbours.“

—  Quentin Crisp, book The Naked Civil Servant

Source: The Naked Civil Servant (1968), Ch. 21