You saw my little expose about Vincent Sheheen. His blatant offense occurred just about an hour after I had banished “The definition of insanity is…” from the realm.
Today, Sen. Sheheen’s good friend and ally Sen. Joel Lourie spoke to the Columbia Rotary Club. He gave a fine speech; maybe I’ll tell you something serious about it later.
But at the very end, in answering the very last question, he not only uttered the forbidden aphorism, but attributed it. I didn’t have my recorder going, and I was too shocked to write it down word-for-word, but more or less, this is what he said:
I think it was Einstein who said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.
Earlier today, I said things seem to be coming in twos these days. I’m worried that this phenomenon may go beyond that. I fear that next time I run into Rep. James Smith, the first words out of his mouth are going to be, “You know, it’s been said that the definition of insanity is…”
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I have a new saying to propose:
“The definition of insanity is saying ‘the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result’ over and over again and expecting me not to smack you upside the head.”
Or, at least, mention you unfavorably on the blog…
By the way, Joel is not the only person to mistakenly attribute this crime against rhetoric to Einstein. You can even find “confirmation” on the Web.
Some erroneously attribute it to Mark Twain. It has also been misattributed to Benjamin Franklin.
But the first perpetrator appears to have been one Rita Mae Brown. At least, that’s the best my forensic Googling has been able to come up with. I’m not sure it’s ready to take to court. The problem with blaming her is that it would mean it was first said in 1983.
It certainly FEELS to me as though I’ve been hearing it a lot longer than that.
I would suggest a far more overuse hackneyed expression is “Class Warfare”. Pleeeez, lets talk like adults. I’ve gotten to where I count the number of times a Republican politician uses that expression whenever they give an interview. The score for Lindsey Graham in a short interview yesterday on Fox News Sunday was 3. Didn’t quite reach the 4 times used by Paul Ryan on last weeks show.
But they have bigger problems than overusing some irrelevant bumper sticker quote. Watching these debates just makes you cringe. Folks whooping it up whenever the subject of death comes up. It’s like the more death the better. And of course the gay soldier who was roundly booed when he asked a question. And the constant bowing down to the tea party over issues like HPV vaccines, college tuition for immigrants, even more tax cuts for the wealthy and of course the ever popular repeal of Obamacare.
This is a strange election cycle with the GOP candidates obsessing over seeing who can go the furtherst to the right on issues big and small. It’s like they can’t think for themeselves at all. And mostly this is just plain sad.
Speaking of the GOP we haven’t discussed the presidential odds in a while. And a whole lot of surprising stuff is going on. Hermain Cain won the Florida straw poll. That should improve his long odds a tad. Newt Gingrich seems to be making a modest and a bit surprising comeback. Michele Bachmann seems to be in a free fall. Sure she’s had some gaffes but seriously she has collapsed in recent polling. Newt is probably picking up her previous support. Romney is steady. He continues to underwhelm but slow and steady may be the best course given the flameouts of others. But mostly it seems the luster is wearing off Rick Perry’s halo a bit. He’s trying to make his lack of debating skills an asset. It just might work. GOP candidates have parlayed weaknesses into strengths before.
Romney – Even
Perry 2-1
Paul 6-1
Gingrich 8-1
Huntsman 10-1
Bachmann 12-1
Cain 12-1
Santorum 20-1
Well, based on the news last week that scientists may have found something that travels faster than the speed of light, I’m starting to think that Einstein was no Einstein.
The definition of bad rhetoric is quoting Rita Mae Brown and expecting it not sound cliched.
Doug, I’m going to have to save that one for Health and Happiness…
If the source of the quotation is truly an important issue to anyone besides Rita Mae Brown, this citation may be of interest:
“Insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting different results” from Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous. Also found on page 11 of the final “Review Form” which was distributed to the fellowship in November, 1981.
I would bet that there is even a much earlier citation in British literature, most probably 19th century.
In the fantasy world where both politicians reside, Romney could be Obama’s VP pick, adopting planks in the blink of his eye and expanding the administration’s czar pool to include former missionaries.
If Chris Christy runs as some now speculate, who might balance his ticket?
Candidates on the right are going to keep announcing in a manner designed to thwart opposition research and advertising coffers.
Administration scandals are also going to accumulate, and there is little doubt more workers across the country will become unemployed.
What an exciting time for voters!
… there is little doubt more workers across the country will become unemployed.
-Juan
This is the kind of throwaway comment often used to support one’s preconceived belief system. Any honest appraisal of the current economic situation in this country recognizes a considerable amount of doubt concerning future unemployment.
@bud
What kind of jobs do you think are going to be created over the next year? Which industries will be hiring? Construction is dead due to the oversupply of foreclosed houses and underwater mortgages. Manufacturing is dead as long as there are cheaper options overseas and as long as unions have unrealistic demands for wages and benefits. Information technology is being outsourced except at the high end. Obamacare will do what it can to decimate the insurance industry.
The only jobs that can be created are either government jobs funded by more deficit spending or else military jobs as the result of inventing another phony war against another “threat”.
Face it – we are in a period of decline due to an expanding base of uneducated people with limited skills. You can’t invent jobs for these people.
Construction is not “dead”– I see new houses going up all over Lexington and SE Richland, for one. Tell the new Bridgestone employees how manufacturing is “dead”–large, heavy items are still cheaper to make here than ship in.
@bud – “Any honest appraisal of the current economic situation in this country recognizes a considerable amount of doubt concerning future unemployment.”
<<< "This is the kind of throwaway comment often used to support one’s preconceived belief system."
Actually, pure 'honesty' values truthful opinions of the dull or uninformed equal with those of the informed and candid.
Time alone, determine into which categories one's predictions (preconceived beliefs) actually fit. Delightfully, we do not have long to wait (about 481 days).
Such gloom. I suggest we are on the verge of a great recovery. All it takes it a bit of a nudge from the government sector, not more austerity plans. Housing is likely to bottom out soon. The auto industry is entering a boom period. Gasoline prices have fallen so folks are likely to start spending again. I envision a bright future. If only the naysayers would quit naysaying. Negativity is contangious.