He who finds health finds everything — health is the precondition for all other goods. Without health, wealth, love, and success cannot be enjoyed. With health, everything else is possible or can be sought.
The Sicilian greeting 'saluti!' — health! — as both a toast and a wish, points to how central health was in the culture's value system. In a pre-modern world where illness was frequent, expensive, and often fatal, the person who was healthy had won the fundamental lottery. This proverb is paired with 'la saluti è la megghiu ricchizza' but goes further: it says not merely that health is wealth but that health is everything, the total package, the one thing that contains all others. A healthy person can work, love, enjoy the sun, eat well, walk in the fields, be present for their family. All the other goods of life require this as foundation. The proverb was spoken at recoveries from illness, at health toasts, at the bedside of the sick, at every moment when the preciousness of working bodies was made suddenly obvious.
A Sicilian proverb placing health as the absolute precondition for all other goods. 'Cu trova salute' = chi trova salute (he who finds health), 'tuttu' = tutto (everything). Deeply embedded in the island's toast culture and health-centred value system.
After recovering from a serious illness
È tornato a camminare, a mangiare, a ridere. Cu trova salute trova tuttu — il resto viene da solo.
He returned to walking, eating, laughing. He who finds health finds everything — the rest comes by itself.
A toast at a family dinner
Siamo tutti qui, siamo tutti sani. Cu trova salute trova tuttu — cin cin.
We are all here, we are all healthy. He who finds health finds everything — cheers.
Advising someone who is overworking to take care of their body
Non sacrificare la salute per il lavoro. Cu trova salute trova tuttu — senza salute, il lavoro non vale niente.
Do not sacrifice your health for work. He who finds health finds everything — without health, work is worth nothing.
At a hospital, watching a patient improve
Sta meglio oggi. Cu trova salute trova tuttu — gli occhi gli brillano di nuovo.
He is better today. He who finds health finds everything — his eyes are shining again.