Is Repetition Good or Bad?

Chesterton observes that when we grow up we tend to think that repetition as a sign of deadness, “like a piece of clockwork. People feel that if the universe were personal it would vary, if the sun were alive it would dance.” To the contrary, “variation in human affairs is generally brought into them, not by life, but death; by the dying down or breaking off of their strength or desire. A man varies his movements because of some slight element of failure or fatigue.” Whereas repetition, far from signifying monotony and deadness, may signify delight, desire, and vitality.

Vigen…