“But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun.; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic monotony that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never gotten tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
In this passage, G.K. Chesterton explores the idea of God's relationship with creation, challenging the notion that repetition equates to monotony. Instead, he suggests that divine creativity is an ongoing, joyous act rather than a mechanical or tiresome routine.
Chesterton opens with the provocative idea that God might find strength and even delight in repetition ("exult in monotony"). This reframes what humans typically perceive as dull or repetitive as something infused with purpose and vitality. The imagery of God commanding the sun and moon to “Do it again” every day presents natural cycles not as dull routines but as intentional, loving acts of renewal.
Furthermore, Chesterton contrasts human weariness with divine freshness: while humans "have sinned and grown old," God remains eternally youthful, possessing "the eternal appetite of infancy." This implies that unlike humans, God’s creative energy never wanes or tires, and each daisy, though seemingly identical, is made with fresh enthusiasm rather than automatic repetition.
The passage encourages readers to reconsider how they view routine and creativity—reminding us that what may appear monotonous can be an expression of unfailing joy and purpose, especially when viewed through a spiritual lens.
In an age dominated by rapid technological advancement and a culture that prizes novelty, Chesterton’s meditation on monotony and divine creativity offers a profound counterpoint. His perspective invites us to reconsider the value of routine and repetition—not as dull or meaningless, but as acts imbued with intention, care, and even joy. This mindset has important implications for modern life:
Appreciation of Consistency: In a fast-paced world craving constant change, Chesterton’s idea that God delights in repeating the same act (like making each daisy) encourages us to find beauty and purpose in daily routines and rituals, emphasizing how consistency can be a source of stability and meaning.
Mindful Presence: The suggestion that each daisy is made individually, with care, inspires a modern ethos of mindfulness—being fully present in the moment even when engaging in repetitive tasks, rather than viewing them as monotonous or trivial.
Creativity in the Ordinary: This view challenges the assumption that creativity is only about innovation or the new. It asserts that creativity can be found in renewing the ordinary continually, which is relevant in fields such as sustainable living, art, and education, where repetitive effort yields lasting value.
Spiritual and Emotional Renewal: Chesterton’s portrayal of God as eternally youthful and joyful invites individuals in a modern, often cynical world to rediscover wonder and playfulness. This can foster resilience and hope amid the exhaustion and “old age” that busy, stressful lives often bring.
In essence, Chesterton’s reflection encourages embracing repetition and routine not as burdens but as expressions of love, creativity, and vitality—an outlook that remains deeply relevant as we navigate the complexities and demands of contemporary life.
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
“It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God has never got tired of making them... The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore.”
“All the towering materialism which dominates the modern mind rests ultimately upon one assumption; a false assumption. It is supposed that if a thing goes on repeating itself it is probably dead; a piece of clockwork. People feel that if the universe was personal it would vary; if the sun were alive it would dance. This is a fallacy even in relation to known fact. For the variation in human affairs is generally brought into them, not by life, but by 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. He gets into an omnibus because he is tired of walking; or he walks because he is tired of sitting still. But if his life and joy were so gigantic that he never tired of going to Islington, he might go to Islington as regularly as the Thames goes to Sheerness. The very speed and ecstacy of his life would have the stillness of death. The sun rises every morning. I do not rise every morning; but the variation is due not to my activity, but to my inaction. Now, to put the matter in a popular phrase, it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life. The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE. Heaven may ENCORE the bird who laid an egg. If the human being conceives and brings forth a human child instead of bringing forth a fish, or a bat, or a griffin, the reason may not be that we are fixed in an animal fate without life or purpose. It may be that our little tragedy has touched the gods, that they admire it from their starry galleries, and that at the end of every human drama man is called again and again before the curtain. Repetition may go on for millions of years, by mere choice, and at any instant it may stop. Man may stand on the earth generation after generation, and yet each birth be his positively last appearance.”
“Is it possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening "Do it again" to the moon." from Orthodoxy.”
“The sun rises every morning. I do not rise every morning; but the variation is not due to my activity, but to my inaction. Now, to put the matter in a popular phrase, it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life. The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that the specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say "Do it afain", and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon.”
“Every man has forgotten who he is. One may understand the cosmos, but never the ego; the self is more distant than any star.Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; but thou shalt not know thyself.We are all under the same mental calamity; we have all forgotten our names. We have all forgotten what we really are. All that we call common sense and rationality and practicality and positivism only means that for certain dead levels of our life we forget that we have forgotten. All that we call spirit and art and ecstasy only means that for one awful moment we remember that we forget.”