Love & Passion Quote by Bette Midler

Midler’s line punctures a cultural contradiction with the timing of a well-aimed rimshot: we insist sex is “natural” while treating it like a complicated appliance that requires an instruction manual, troubleshooting guide, and seasonal upgrades. The joke works because it treats “natural” as a claim people make to shut down discomfort or debate, then immediately exposes the industry built on that claim’s insecurity.

The intent is less to mock sex than to mock the performance anxiety surrounding it. If something is truly instinctive, you shouldn’t need an entire publishing category to validate that you’re doing it “right.” Midler is aiming at the self-help economy, but also at the broader culture of expertise: the way modern life turns even private pleasure into a testable skill, complete with metrics, hacks, and implied failure. The punchline lands on “so many books,” because volume signals demand, and demand signals doubt.

Subtextually, it’s a feminist wink. “Natural” has long been used as a cudgel - to police desire, justify double standards, or shrug off bad behavior. Midler flips the word back on the culture that uses it, suggesting that what’s “natural” is not effortless mastery but messy learning, communication, and vulnerability. The context matters: coming from a brash, mainstream performer who built a persona around candor and camp, the quip also reads as permission. Laugh at the myth of effortless sexuality, and you’re already closer to something more honest than the manuals.