The Temple of Perfection Quotes

“a temple dedicated to personal identity and the perfectibility of the body, where members pursue and achieve their individual arete.”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“or ignore the sheer physical pleasure that exercisers get from moving and activating the body, recognized by the philosopher Jeremy Bentham as ‘the pleasure of health, or, the internal pleasurable feeling or flow of spirits which accompanies a state of full health and vigour’. The gym also gives its members a sense of personal empowerment and agency that might not be available to them in other areas of their lives, as well as a sense of achievement when they accomplish the physical challenges they have set themselves. On the social level it gives them access to a ready-made community of like-minded people who are potential friends and partners. My conclusion, therefore, is that for the convert minority, the gym has once again become a quasi-religious space”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“a gym is one of the most important aspects of their individual identities. On the physical level, it provides very tangible benefits, in terms of appearance, health and general well-being, and we should not underestimate”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“the body as the visible expression of the empowerment”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“At present the industry is catering to the converted –”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“edifices”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym

“cataphract.”
― Eric Chaline, Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym