by Jodie44 on May 18th, 2006
First, I wrote, "Albert Einstein.", and hit the submit button. About thirty seconds later, I discovered the author was Ben Franklin. And then I found out editing answers had just become impossible, Furthermore, things would be like that for a while.
There's nothing like staring at the absence of "edit this answer" to make you wish the federal government was spending billions of dollars on time travel instead of arrogance. Or, more realistically, to make me wish I'd verified the information before answering. Thanks to Bob for being so cool about the whole thing. Very decent of you, considering my answer was wrong and stayed that way for a while. Live and learn:)
by slb-slb on November 8th, 2007
It's most often attributed to Albert Einstein, sometimes to Benjamin Franklin, but I have never seen a specific citation for either one, which makes me suspect it was neither.
It doesn't sound like Franklin to me. (Is "over and over" a phrase that was used in the 18th century? It sounds more modern than that -- I think Franklin would more likely have said "repeatedly.")
I suspect this one really should be attributed to the prolific "Anonymous."
by Alatea on May 18th, 2006
Benjamin Franklin who died in 1790 is credited with this quote about insanity.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."
by iwnit on November 8th, 2007
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
This and variations on it have been attributed to various different sources, including Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, an old Chinese proverb, and Rita Mae Brown"
Source:
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Insanity
by Dr Shelagh on March 29th, 2009
Actually it stems from Rita Mae Brown's novel Sudden Death, New York , 1983, p. 68.
by Henry on February 23rd, 2009
I am a chinese. I have very good knowledge on chinese proverb. I have never hear this. so this isn't chinese proverb I think.
by babybleep99 on January 26th, 2008
eistein
by VSPrasad on November 9th, 2007
“One definition of insanity is to do the same thing, day-after-day, expecting different results”
- Mark Silber
“The very definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.” - Philip Mangano
“Insanity is doing the same thing in the same way and
expecting a different outcome”
Old Chinese Proverb
http://en.thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=insanity+is+doing+the+same+thing
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html
http://www.saidwhat.co.uk/quotes/business/benjamin_franklin/the_definition_of_insanity_is_doing_13716
by Snowman on November 8th, 2007
I think it was Einstein
by gougeongenius on October 18th, 2008
i beleive it was albert einstein
by Geek on September 7th, 2008
None of the answers so far answer the question. Who first said or wrote that definition of insanity? It has become quite popular, and I'd not realized it was so muddled in attribution-land. In checking the Net I've seen a perfect example of the squirriliness of Net sources, with Net authorities stating with equal assuredness that it was Einstein, Ben Franklin, and at least two others including "ancient Chinese proverb." I seriously doubt each one, but that means I could be wrong at least one out of four or five times. Franklin didn't speak or write in such terms (He would have said "madness" and "repeatedly" and inserted a "ye" or a "whereas" here and there, methinks).
I'd keep trying on the Net, but I'm beginning to think one of you out there might take on a big assignment and look it up in some paper, volume, periodical and otherwise obsolete "library" institution. Meanwhile I'll go on about my life. Good luck!
by Naois on January 26th, 2008
i would say one of the 5 or so people listed above, and to further add to it, this sounds like a form of insanity i could live with!
by chuck on January 24th, 2008
bill wilson the founding member of alcoholics anonamous.
by shaneaproductions on January 22nd, 2008
It was Albert Einstein!
by erinrose on January 22nd, 2008
Rita Mae Brown
by Anonymous on December 7th, 2007
It was the Roman philosopher "Repetitious" who first said it. :)
by yruohk on May 26th, 2006
God is the giver of all good thoughts and we express them. That explains why the same thoughts come from all over the world even though there is no prior communication of that idea/thought through any form of contact, be it ancient or current.
by dublinmike on January 2nd, 2010
It was God. He keeps allowing more & more people to be born and expecting different results.
Therefore… God is insane.
It’s a joke… relax.
by TonyChicago on September 5th, 2009
Benjamin Franklin
by OrrieH on November 22nd, 2009
Proof is in the Albert Einstein book - And the citation is??? Letters to Solovine.
by dublinmike on January 2nd, 2010
I agree, it was the Roman philosopher "Repetitious"
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Comments
oh yeah.
by YARNLADY is happy everyday on November 8th, 2007
Well, it's very widely attributed to both of them, but both are wrong. It's actually Rita Mae Brown, in the novel Sudden Death
by DavidC on May 27th, 2009