vicious cycle
A bad situation or behavior that is the cause of another situation (or causal chain) which in turn causes the first, bad situation again.
A positive feedback loop in which the result is bad.
A positive feedback loop in which the result is bad.
A vicious cycle in "The Little Prince":
'I am drinking,' answered the drunkard lugubriously.
'Why are you drinking?' the little prince asked.
'In order to forget,' replied the drunkard.
'To forget what?' enquired the little prince, who was already feeling sorry for him.
'To forget that I am ashamed,' the drunkard confessed, hanging his head.
'Ashamed of what?' asked the little prince who wanted to help him.
'Ashamed of drinking!' concluded the drunkard, withdrawing into total silence.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
'I am drinking,' answered the drunkard lugubriously.
'Why are you drinking?' the little prince asked.
'In order to forget,' replied the drunkard.
'To forget what?' enquired the little prince, who was already feeling sorry for him.
'To forget that I am ashamed,' the drunkard confessed, hanging his head.
'Ashamed of what?' asked the little prince who wanted to help him.
'Ashamed of drinking!' concluded the drunkard, withdrawing into total silence.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
vicious cycle by dreamlandburns October 17, 2008
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