Repetition, Recollection, and Hope

Kierkegaard spent much time writing about repetition, which he believed to be the key to happiness in life. In order to understand his philosophy, one must also understand his definition of repetition, which is hard, considering he seems to have been just comprehending the concept himself. While he struggled to deal with what exactly repetition was, or if it was at all possible, he often defined it by that which it was not- hope and recollection. Below are some of the ways he defined each of these terms.

Hope is . . .

“new attire, stiff and starched and splendid. Still . . .   one does not know whether it will suit one . . .”

“a pretty girl, who slips away from one’s grasp.”

“an enticing fruit that fails to satisfy”

 Recollection is . . .

“discarded clothing which, however lovely it might be, no longer suits one because one has outgrown it.”

“a beautiful older woman who never suits the moment.”

“sorrowful sustenance that fails to satisfy.”

Repetition is . . .

“clothing that never becomes worn, that becomes warn, that neither pulls nor hangs too loosely.”

“a beloved wife of whom one never tires . . .”

“the daily bread that satisfies through blessing.”

More simply put, for Kierkegaard repetition was the ability to continue to do something with joy and enthusiasm. On the other hand, constant hope and recollection both oppose this force. Hope focuses too much on the future, recollection on the past, while repetition revels in the very moment. By ceasing to constantly search for something more or look back to what one has had, one can calm oneself and enjoy what is there in the moment. Without this ability, Kierkegaard believed that it was impossible to be truly happy.