“Repetition is useful, but continuous use of mechanical repetition also has harmful effects. It is dangerous because it easily induces habits of sheer mechanized action, blindness, tendencies to perform slavishly instead of thinking, instead of facing a problem freely.”

Source: Productive thinking, 1945, p. 112

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Repetition is useful, but continuous use of mechanical repetition also has harmful effects. It is dangerous because it …" by Max Wertheimer?
Max Wertheimer photo
Max Wertheimer 15
Co-founder of Gestalt psychology 1880–1943

Related quotes

D.H. Lawrence photo

“But better die than live mechanically a life that is a repetition of repetitions.”

Source: Women in Love (1920), Ch. 15

U.G. Krishnamurti photo
Carl Schmitt photo

“The exception is more interesting than the rule. The rule proves nothing; the exception proves everything. In the exception the power of real life breaks through the crust of a mechanism that has become torpid by repetition.”

Carl Schmitt (1888–1985) German jurist, political theorist and professor of law

Source: Political Theology: Four Chapters on the Concept of Sovereignty

Israel Zangwill photo
Ernest Mandel photo
Ernest Mandel photo
Sri Aurobindo photo

“If thou wouldst have humanity advance, buffet all preconceived ideas. Thought thus smitten awakes and becomes creative. Otherwise it rests in a mechanical repetition and mistakes that for its right activity.”

Sri Aurobindo (1872–1950) Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, philosopher, yogi, guru and poet

Thoughts and Glimpses (1916-17)

Winston S. Churchill photo

“The mechanical danger must be overcome by a mechanical remedy”

The World Crisis, 1915 : Chapter I (The Deadlock in the West), Churchill, Butterworth (1923), pp. 22-23.
Early career years (1898–1929)
Context: Mechanical not less than strategic conditions had combined to produce at this early period in the war a deadlock both on sea and land. The strongest fleet was paralysed in its offensive by the menace of the mine and the torpedo. The strongest army was arrested in its advance by the machine gun...... The mechanical danger must be overcome by a mechanical remedy..... Something must be discovered which would render ships immune from the torpedo, and make it unnecessary for soldiers to bare their breasts to the machine-gun hail.

John F. Kennedy photo

“Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. […] Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors.”

John F. Kennedy (1917–1963) 35th president of the United States of America

1961, Inaugural Address
Context: So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. [... ] Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.
Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah — to "undo the heavy burdens … and to let the oppressed go free."

Pricasso photo

“Painted using my penis instead of a brush. A short video of that performance will be sold with the painting.”

Pricasso (1949) Australian painter

Description of his portrait of Australia Prime Minister Julia Gillard, his submission to the Bald Archy Prize — cited in: [Artists brush up on wit for poke at awards, Canberra Times, 12 February 2011, Federal Capital Press of Australia Ltd., Australia]

Related topics