Monday, January 08, 2007

Colette | Self Support

Still reading Judith Thurman's biography on Colette. This looks like something for the notebook:

Colette was not the first woman of the century to work out, but she was one of the first amateurs. She had just turned thirty, and she had a morbid fear of succumbing to the matronly flaccidity that was the fate of the average middle-aged woman of that era. In the process of becoming fit, she discovered that exercise strengthens one's morale. … Colette had understod, precociously, that the true beauty of a woman's muscles is identical with their purpose, and that's self-support.

~ From Secrets of the Flesh, pp132-133

Ladies, please go exercise. Or do yoga.

3 comments:

Rebecca H. said...

I loved that passage too! Her athleticism is one of the reasons I admire Colette so much.

LK said...

A morbid fear of succumbing to the matronly flaccidity that was the fate of the middle-aged woman...and at 30! Pretty self-enlightened. Can you imagine what she would think of Americans now, with our obesity problems?

Anonymous said...

Dorothy: Yes, Colette is my hero. *dreamy sigh* :P

It's remarkable how Colette has so much to offer the modern reader. She is just this odd blend of insight and bone-headedness that's fascinating.

LK: Hmm...what would Colette think of obese Americans now? Knowing her, something outrageously rude and funny!