Re:Defendants not even asked! (Score 1)

It seems to me there is an inherent assumption in that quote that there are no relevant differences causing you to believe the second attempt may be successful where the first was not. Consider: In your axe example, while the actor is technically repeating the same action, he is not actually "trying the same thing". What he tried initially was to destroy a 100% structurally sound door with a single axe swing. What he tried the second time was to destroy a structurally compromised door with an axe swing. One of these things is not quite like the other :) If there is a potentially valid reason to believe the second attempt may succeed where the first did not, there is logic there. This quote is defining insanity as actions taken without the benefit of any cognitive reasoning. I find it more helpful to take this principle from the quote, than to try to literally apply it. However, perhaps a better phrase would say "expecting better results" instead of simply different.