Don't Be Afraid to Repeat!

Elie Wiesel, in the following excerpt from Night, repeats "Never shall I forget" seven times (a total of 28 words used in 124, or roughly a quarter of the words). The example speaks for itself. What Wiesel says bears repeating and, at the same time, teaches us a lesson in repetition.

Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky.

Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever.

Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never. —Elie Wiesel, from a wall at The United States Holocaust Museum

 

See our most recent tips.

Tips from November 2001 to April 2002

Tips from September 2000 to October 2001.

Tips from January to August 2000
Tips from January to December 1999