--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is simple to follow the easy and…" description: "\"It is simple to follow the easy and familiar path of personal ambition and private gain. It is more comfortable to sit content in the easy approval of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/daniel-webster-2347_accepting_it-is-simple-to-follow-the-easy-and-fami_3110189.jpg" --- # It is simple to follow the easy and familiar path of… ![“It is simple to follow the easy and familiar path of personal ambition and private gain. It is more comfortable to sit content in the easy approval of friends and of neighbours than to risk the friction and the controversy that comes with public affairs. It is easier to fall in step with the…” quote by Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/daniel-webster-2347_accepting_it-is-simple-to-follow-the-easy-and-fami_3110189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/daniel-webster-2347_accepting_it-is-simple-to-follow-the-easy-and-fami_3110189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/daniel-webster-2347_accepting_it-is-simple-to-follow-the-easy-and-fami_3110189.jpg) > “It is simple to follow the easy and familiar path of personal ambition and private gain. It is more comfortable to sit content in the easy approval of friends and of neighbours than to risk the friction and the controversy that comes with public affairs. It is easier to fall in step with the slogans of others than to march to the beat of the internal drummer - to make and stand on judgements of your own. And it far easier to accept and to stand on the past, than to fight for the answers of the future” [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing personal ambition and social approval over independent judgment leads to conformity and stagnation. **In simple terms:** Following the crowd is easier than thinking for yourself. Key Takeaway Embrace independent thought despite social pressure. Themes conformity individualism ambition public vs private courage Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - political activism - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy political theory psychology Questions to Reflect On - What personal convictions are you compromising for approval? - How can you balance social harmony with authenticity? A Different Perspective Independent thinking can be socially isolating and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Affair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affair/) [Affairs Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affairs-easier-3951997/) [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambition Private](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition-private-3229815/) [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Beats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beats/) [Controversy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controversy/) [Drummer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drummer/) [Easier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easier/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Familiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar/) [Familiar Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/familiar-path-2140543/) [Fighting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fighting/) [Friction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friction/) [Gains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gains/) [Internals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internals/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [March](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/march/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Neighbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neighbour/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Personal Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-ambition-1987554/) [Public affairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-affairs/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Slogans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slogans/) [Stand Judgements](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-judgements-2055327/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) ## Related quotes > [“Almost all men prized the familiar path over the true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/almost-all-men-prized-the-familiar-path-over-the-true/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) > [“I tell you, dear Citizen Camille—it’s not the deaths I can’t stand. It’s the judgements, the judgements in the courtroom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/i-tell-you-dear-citizen-camille-it-s-not-the-deaths-i-can-t-stand-it/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop/affairs-are-easier-of-entrance-than-of-exit-and-it-is-but-common/) [Aesop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop/) > [It is my ambition to be, as a private individual, abolished and voided from history, leaving it markless, no refuse save the printed books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-my-ambition-to-be-as-a-private-individual-abolished-and-voided/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [It is my ambition to be, as a private individual, abolished and voided from history, leaving it markless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/it-is-my-ambition-to-be-as-a-private-individual-abolished-and-voided-2/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [Ambition, in a private man is a vice, is in a prince the virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-massinger/ambition-in-a-private-man-is-a-vice-is-in-a-prince-the-virtue/) [Philip Massinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-massinger/) > [My personal ambition remains the same - to be creative, to be modern, to stay one step ahead, to enjoy life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-massenet/my-personal-ambition-remains-the-same-to-be-creative-to-be-modern-to/) [Natalie Massenet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-massenet/) > [Personal ambition is 'I want to be CEO.' Greater vision ambition is, 'I want to lead this company so that people want to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/personal-ambition-is-i-want-to-be-ceo-greater-vision-ambition-is-i/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [I invite everyone to chose forgiveness rather than division, teamwork over personal ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-francois-cope/i-invite-everyone-to-chose-forgiveness-rather-than-division-teamwork/) [Jean-Francois Cope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-francois-cope/) > [Sushma Swaraj has no personal ambition. I take things in my stride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushma-swaraj/sushma-swaraj-has-no-personal-ambition-i-take-things-in-my-stride/) [Sushma Swaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushma-swaraj/) > [ “Given courage and ability and a favorable set of circumstances, there is no greater way to \[acquire\] influence than to be free of personal… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorena-hickok/given-courage-and-ability-and-a-favorable-set-of-circumstances-there/) [Lorena Hickok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorena-hickok/) > [Cast out envy; you can have all that you want, and you need not envy any man what he has. Above all things, see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/cast-out-envy-you-can-have-all-that-you-want-and-you-need-not-envy/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [Put personal ambition away from you, and then you will find consolation in living or in dying, whatever may happen to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-frederic-amiel/put-personal-ambition-away-from-you-and-then-you-will-find/) [Henri Frederic Amiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-frederic-amiel/) > [I have enormous personal ambition. I want to shift the entire planet. And I'm doing it. I am now a famous person. I represent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-have-enormous-personal-ambition-i-want-to-shift-the-entire-planet/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [To all our means of culture is added the powerful incentive to personal ambition, no post of honor is so high but the poorest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/to-all-our-means-of-culture-is-added-the-powerful-incentive-to/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) ## More by Daniel Webster > [In the nature of things, those who have no property and see their neighbors possess much more than they think them to need, cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/in-the-nature-of-things-those-who-have-no-property-and-see-their/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [“Liberty and Union, now and for ever, one and inseparable!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/liberty-and-union-now-and-for-ever-one-and-inseparable/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If we work on marble it will perish. If we work on brass, time will efface it. If we raise temples, they will crumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-we-work-on-marble-it-will-perish-if-we-work-on-brass-time-will/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [This is the Book. I have read the Bible through many times, and now make it a practice to read it through once every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/this-is-the-book-i-have-read-the-bible-through-many-times-and-now/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Men hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster watch, and the dentist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/men-hang-out-their-signs-indicative-of-their-respective-trades-shoe/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [There is something on earth greater than arbitrary or despotic power. The lightning has its power, and the whirlwind has its power, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/there-is-something-on-earth-greater-than-arbitrary-or-despotic-power/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Faith puts God between us and our circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/faith-puts-god-between-us-and-our-circumstances/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Failure is more frequently from want of energy than want of capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/failure-is-more-frequently-from-want-of-energy-than-want-of-capital/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [The Bible is a book of faith, and a book of doctrine, and a book of religion, of special revelation from God; but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/the-bible-is-a-book-of-faith-and-a-book-of-doctrine-and-a-book-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from...the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/our-destruction-should-it-come-at-all-will-be-from-the-inattention-of/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [When the spotless ermine of the judicial robe fell on John Jay, it touched nothing less spotless than itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/when-the-spotless-ermine-of-the-judicial-robe-fell-on-john-jay-it/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If the Union was formed by accession of States then the Union may be dissolved by the secession of States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-the-union-was-formed-by-accession-of-states-then-the-union-may-be/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [A solemn and religious regard to spiritual and eternal things is an indispensable element of all true greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/a-solemn-and-religious-regard-to-spiritual-and-eternal-things-is-an/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [Philosophic argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/philosophic-argument-especially-that-drawn-from-the-vastness-of-the/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [We are all agents of the same supreme power, the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/we-are-all-agents-of-the-same-supreme-power-the-people/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) [Explore all 170 Daniel Webster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is simple to follow the easy and familiar path of personal ambition and private gain. It is more comfortable to sit content in the easy approval of friends and of neighbours than to risk the friction and the controversy that comes with public affairs. It is easier to fall in step with the slogans of others than to march to the beat of the internal drummer - to make and stand on judgements of your own. 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