English Issue 42/2026

The Pythagoreans of ancient Greece used the word “hygiaínein” to greet one another in their letters. It translates as “stay healthy!” and applies to both body and mind. It is fitting as a daily morning greeting and a reminder to oneself. Yesterday it was the summer drought; today it is an economic war in North America; tomorrow it will be the political stalemate in an East German state: every day brings new discord and the call to our inner selves to wrest new confidence from every new crisis. Aristotle writes that the soul is that which can set itself in motion. Optimism, goodwill, trust born from a “despite this”—these all contribute to keeping oneself in motion. A healthy soul is capable of this, and it also what makes the soul healthy.