Active life is essential to the health of body and mind; but both require periods of rest, in addition to the regular hours of sleep. It is much better, therefore, to work vigorously for a time and then to rest, than to keep up a monotonous round of lifeless drudgery. (See Sleep, and Exercise.)

The "current of the thoughts" is to the mind what posture is to the body; and both require change to prevent weariness and deformity. (See Posture.)

Rest of body or mind may be obtained either by abstaining from all bodily or mental exercise, or by change of occupation; and as the one gives entire rest and the other only partial rest, it is best to adopt each of these measures at different times.

It must be remembered, that as the mind acts by means of the brain, which is a part of the body, it cannot act healthfully while the body is suffering under disease or exhaustion. The "gait" of the mind is affected by the condition of the brain, as much as the "gait" of the body is affected by the condition of the limbs.