--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: path of least resistance, or the walk…" description: "\"“path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.”\" — Greg Iles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png" --- # path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals. ![“path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.” quote by Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png) > ““path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.”” [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing the easiest route may seem comfortable, but it can lead to hidden pain; confronting difficulty directly often yields better outcomes. **In simple terms:** Ease vs. hidden hardship Key Takeaway Comfort can mask deeper costs Themes choice consequences courage comfort risk growth Mood thoughtful cautious reflective Type aphor advice When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - health choices - financial planning Key Concepts decision-making pain effort Practical Applications - risk assessment - strategic planning Questions to Reflect On - What hidden costs might you be ignoring? - How can you balance comfort with long‑term benefit? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Path of least resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-of-least-resistance/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) ## Related quotes > [“There it was, the choice I’d confronted so often in life: the path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/there-it-was-the-choice-i-d-confronted-so-often-in-life-the-path-of/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [No use fanning up hot coals when you have to walk across them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/no-use-fanning-up-hot-coals-when-you-have-to-walk-across-them/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [Like piles of dry wood with red-hot coals underneath.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cisneros/like-piles-of-dry-wood-with-red-hot-coals-underneath/) [Henry Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cisneros/) > [The path of least resistance leads to a life of no fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/the-path-of-least-resistance-leads-to-a-life-of-no-fulfillment/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [Victory will never be found by taking the path of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/victory-will-never-be-found-by-taking-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“You got to where you are in your life right now by moving along the path of least resistance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fritz/you-got-to-where-you-are-in-your-life-right-now-by-moving-along-the/) [Robert Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fritz/) > [Never settle for the path of least resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-ann-womack/never-settle-for-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Lee Ann Womack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-ann-womack/) > [Generally, the path of least resistance appeals. Also, I am superb at parallel parking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/generally-the-path-of-least-resistance-appeals-also-i-am-superb-at/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is the path of least resistance that makes rivers and men crooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-palmer/it-is-the-path-of-least-resistance-that-makes-rivers-and-men-crooked/) [B. J. Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-palmer/) > [“For success, don't take the path of least resistance. Take the path of most persistence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michele-jennae/for-success-don-t-take-the-path-of-least-resistance-take-the-path-of/) [Michele Jennae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michele-jennae/) > [I'm all for the path of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-lundin/i-m-all-for-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Cody Lundin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-lundin/) > [“If you always do what is easy and choose the path of least resistance, you never step outside your comfort zone. Great things don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/if-you-always-do-what-is-easy-and-choose-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [Faith is the path of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/faith-is-the-path-of-least-resistance/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The path of least resistance will never make you proud.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/the-path-of-least-resistance-will-never-make-you-proud/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“The path of least resistance never gets us where we want to go. Shortcuts always end up being cul-de-sacs. The key to spiritual growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-path-of-least-resistance-never-gets-us-where-we-want-to-go/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More by Greg Iles > [Like my best friend, I asked for drums for Christmas, and got them. But when he moved on to guitar, I realized two things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/like-my-best-friend-i-asked-for-drums-for-christmas-and-got-them-but/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“We do not just belong to this universe, we are it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/we-do-not-just-belong-to-this-universe-we-are-it/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“The mills of the gods grind slowly…but they grind to dust. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/the-mills-of-the-gods-grind-slowly-but-they-grind-to-dust/) [greg iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [...the larger world lay not across oceans but within the human mind and heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/the-larger-world-lay-not-across-oceans-but-within-the-human-mind-and/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [Experiences are like hoarded gold. Whenever I dole out a piece of my private suffering, that is when I get letters from all over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/experiences-are-like-hoarded-gold-whenever-i-dole-out-a-piece-of-my/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“Because death is the end, and if a man doesn’t speak before it silences him, then the things he holds closest die with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/because-death-is-the-end-and-if-a-man-doesn-t-speak-before-it/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [I deal with the human psychology and evil. They are my twin issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/i-deal-with-the-human-psychology-and-evil-they-are-my-twin-issues/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“When we reach the intersection with Homochitto Street, I turn right, into town, and soon we’re passing Dunleith, the antebellum mansion that I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/when-we-reach-the-intersection-with-homochitto-street-i-turn-right/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [The South is the home of 'an eye for an eye.' 'Turning the other cheek'? The South can't see that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/the-south-is-the-home-of-an-eye-for-an-eye-turning-the-other-cheek/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [Some things we must pass over in silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/some-things-we-must-pass-over-in-silence/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“Let me tell you a secret, Caitlin. We’re still in the cave. It’s just bigger, and we wear nicer clothes. We make alliances and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/let-me-tell-you-a-secret-caitlin-we-re-still-in-the-cave-it-s-just/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [I'll read anything that's good. I have no artificial barriers based on genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/i-ll-read-anything-that-s-good-i-have-no-artificial-barriers-based-on/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [My father has always been the heart of my Penn Cage novels,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/my-father-has-always-been-the-heart-of-my-penn-cage-novels/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [I've learned as much about writing from songwriters as I have from other writers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/i-ve-learned-as-much-about-writing-from-songwriters-as-i-have-from/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [“Did the fact that Martin Luther King diddled all those women change what he did for his people? Or Franklin Roosevelt? General Eisenhower? Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/did-the-fact-that-martin-luther-king-diddled-all-those-women-change/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) [Explore all 106 Greg Iles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) ## More Journey quotes > [The end is nothing; the road is all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/the-end-is-nothing-the-road-is-all/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/strange-is-it-not-that-of-the-myriads-who-before-us-passed-the-door/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [What people tend to forget is the journey that I had getting to Formula One. There were plenty of years where I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hamilton/what-people-tend-to-forget-is-the-journey-that-i-had-getting-to/) [Lewis Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hamilton/) > [It is a sweet thing that we serve a dissatisfied God who has destinations in mind for us that we would never choose for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/it-is-a-sweet-thing-that-we-serve-a-dissatisfied-god-who-has/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) > [The path I choose through the maze makes me what I am. I am not only a thing, but also a way of being--one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-keyes/the-path-i-choose-through-the-maze-makes-me-what-i-am-i-am-not-only-a/) [Daniel Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-keyes/) > [Have a Blast; Life wont last! Make the best of the journey before it is over!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/have-a-blast-life-wont-last-make-the-best-of-the-journey-before-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Cocoon's cry to first fly, Travels thousands of miles— So much in so little life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-negi/cocoon-s-cry-to-first-fly-travels-thousands-of-miles-so-much-in-so/) [Ritu Negi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-negi/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [Loving yourself is a journey, not a destination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-holliday/loving-yourself-is-a-journey-not-a-destination/) [Tess Holliday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-holliday/) > [“Everywhere is home, let is go home”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzuco-hu-nh/everywhere-is-home-let-is-go-home/) Dzuco Huỳnh > [Life is a journey, not a destination. Fall into the deep - rise to new heights. .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-basumatary/life-is-a-journey-not-a-destination-fall-into-the-deep-rise-to-new/) [Ashish Basumatary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-basumatary/) > [Be the inner journeys, be the outer travels, all trips elevate man, all voyages lift him up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/be-the-inner-journeys-be-the-outer-travels-all-trips-elevate-man-all/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The hardest roads are often empty; the darkest paths are mostly silent; toughest destinations are almost peopleless! No easy road brings you great victory!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-hardest-roads-are-often-empty-the-darkest-paths-are-mostly-silent/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [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/) > [“May the seas bend to your journey.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoraida-c-rdova/may-the-seas-bend-to-your-journey/) [Zoraida Córdova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoraida-c-rdova/) [Browse all 11,861 Journey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greg Iles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-over-hot-coals/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Journey" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-over-hot-coals/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e63/greg-iles-4609_journey_path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-ove_17484.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.” — Greg Iles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Greg Iles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“path of least resistance, or the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-over-hot-coals/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-over-hot-coals/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```