“The definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”

The expression about repeating the same behavior while expecting a different outcome frames Amber’s assessment of her romantic history: she sees herself caught in a cycle and resolves to change how she approaches relationships.

Source and Meaning

Amber recalls a saying associated with her father while considering her love life. Its logic is practical rather than abstract: when a familiar approach keeps producing disappointment, expecting a different result without changing course is unreasonable. The recollection gives her a concise way to name the pattern she believes she has been repeating.

Amber’s Response

By the summer, Amber has vowed to stop what she regards as this cycle. She considers two alternatives: choosing partners more carefully or, if necessary, remaining celibate. The choice is framed as one between self-respect and the empty relationships that have left her feeling worse about herself; the evidence records her resolve and options, not a final decision to adopt either course.

Narrative Function

The saying turns recognition into a proposed change in conduct. Rather than treating repeated disappointment as inevitable, Amber uses the maxim to question her own choices and set a standard for what she will accept. Its significance lies in that moment of self-assessment: the old pattern is identified, while the outcome of her intended change remains open.