On: NASA: We're sending humans to Mars

[arto]

"The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

[mikeash → arto]

It would be very difficult to chop down a tree with that mentality.

[arto → mikeash]

In quoting Einstein's definition of stupidity, the analogy is to ineffectively chopping at a tree without managing to fell it, and then proceeding to ineffectively do the same to N other trees.

[mikeash → arto]

First, the quote is about insanity, not stupidity. Second, Einstein didn't say it. Third, it's not a very good definition of either.