--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was always better to follow a bumpy…" description: "\"“It was always better to follow a bumpy course of one's own than a smooth but intractable trail set by another. The former was harder, yet far more vit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/j-r-ward-148_coma_it-was-always-better-to-follow-a-bumpy-c_2100618.png" --- # It was always better to follow a bumpy course of one's own… ![“It was always better to follow a bumpy course of one's own than a smooth but intractable trail set by another. The former was harder, yet far more vital. The latter was like a living death...except you didn't know you were dying because you were in a coma.” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/j-r-ward-148_coma_it-was-always-better-to-follow-a-bumpy-c_2100618.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/j-r-ward-148_coma_it-was-always-better-to-follow-a-bumpy-c_2100618.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/j-r-ward-148_coma_it-was-always-better-to-follow-a-bumpy-c_2100618.png) > ““It was always better to follow a bumpy course of one's own than a smooth but intractable trail set by another. The former was harder, yet far more vital. The latter was like a living death...except you didn't know you were dying because you were in a coma.”” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing a difficult, authentic path leads to growth, while an easy, imposed route can feel lifeless and unfulfilling. **In simple terms:** Hard choices foster vitality; easy ones can feel dead. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges for a richer life. Themes growth authenticity choice vitality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career decisions - personal relationships - creative projects - spiritual journeys Key Concepts existentialism selfdetermination risk conformity Questions to Reflect On - Do you ever choose safety over authenticity? - What would happen if you pursued the harder road? A Different Perspective The “smooth” path may sometimes be necessary for survival. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [To understand paranoid people better, follow them around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/to-understand-paranoid-people-better-follow-them-around/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“Make a difference, change the game for the better, leave a legacy, be a guide that someone else can follow and make better, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-wallace/make-a-difference-change-the-game-for-the-better-leave-a-legacy-be-a/) [Carlos Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-wallace/) > [I see and praise what is better, but follow what is worse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/i-see-and-praise-what-is-better-but-follow-what-is-worse/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“But it is better to follow even the shadow of the best than to remain content with the worst.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/but-it-is-better-to-follow-even-the-shadow-of-the-best-than-to-remain/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [We must follow the rule: Better fewer, but better. We must follow the rule: Better get good human material in two or even three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-lenin/we-must-follow-the-rule-better-fewer-but-better-we-must-follow-the/) [Vladimir Lenin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-lenin/) > [“Better to follow a woman’s example than mindlessly heed the dictates of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/better-to-follow-a-woman-s-example-than-mindlessly-heed-the-dictates/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [My work is always better when I am alone and follow my own impressions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/my-work-is-always-better-when-i-am-alone-and-follow-my-own-impressions/) [Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/) > [Destroy my desires, eradicate my ideals, show me something better, and I will follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/destroy-my-desires-eradicate-my-ideals-show-me-something-better-and-i/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“When you make a Bargain with a devil you better follow through.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-gravitt-moulder/when-you-make-a-bargain-with-a-devil-you-better-follow-through/) Gloria Gravitt Moulder > [Didn't it make sense that after something horrible happens, something better should follow?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-henkes/didn-t-it-make-sense-that-after-something-horrible-happens-something/) [Kevin Henkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-henkes/) > [“His death didn't concern him. It was Sunshine he couldn't allow to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/his-death-didn-t-concern-him-it-was-sunshine-he-couldn-t-allow-to-die/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“Death didn’t scare me, but it wasn’t on my to-do list, either.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-hatton/death-didn-t-scare-me-but-it-wasn-t-on-my-to-do-list-either/) L.J. Hatton > [I lived a dangerous life. Stealing cars, I could have been shot. Robbing people, I could have been killed. Nothing in existence holds any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ramirez/i-lived-a-dangerous-life-stealing-cars-i-could-have-been-shot-robbing/) [Richard Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ramirez/) > [“Now, narrowly escaping death didn’t warrant his attention.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-wight/now-narrowly-escaping-death-didn-t-warrant-his-attention/) [Will Wight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-wight/) > [“Great thinking Gemma. Way to set yourself up for a cold death. Didn’t your dreams teach you anything?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-sorensen/great-thinking-gemma-way-to-set-yourself-up-for-a-cold-death-didn-t/) [Jessica Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-sorensen/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Coma quotes > [My journey deep into coma, outside this lowly physical realm and into the loftiest dwelling place of the almighty Creator, revealed the indescribably immense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eben-alexander/my-journey-deep-into-coma-outside-this-lowly-physical-realm-and-into/) [Eben Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eben-alexander/) > [Why dont you slip into something more comfortable¦like a coma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/badbitch/why-dont-you-slip-into-something-more-comfortable-like-a-coma/) Badbitch > [It became kind of a fad in the late '70s to try to help people wake up out of comas by hearing things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/it-became-kind-of-a-fad-in-the-late-70s-to-try-to-help-people-wake-up/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) > [“Coffee, if not strong enough to wake a man from a coma, is not truly coffee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanna-m-white/coffee-if-not-strong-enough-to-wake-a-man-from-a-coma-is-not-truly/) [Roseanna M. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanna-m-white/) > [Of course, we all inevitably work too hard, then we get burned out and have to spend the whole weekend in our pajamas, eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/of-course-we-all-inevitably-work-too-hard-then-we-get-burned-out-and/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If I ever go into a coma, one of you has to promise to come by occasionally and tweeze my unibrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-i-ever-go-into-a-coma-one-of-you-has-to-promise-to-come-by/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The cops picked me up for attempted murder. I can still see the detectives, licking their chops. Thought they had me. Two weeks later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-white/the-cops-picked-me-up-for-attempted-murder-i-can-still-see-the/) [Barry White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-white/) > [“To tell your soul that you love it, is like remembering who you are after being in a coma for a hundred years. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/to-tell-your-soul-that-you-love-it-is-like-remembering-who-you-are/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [As a performer, I wanted to be the loudest, most persistent alarm clock I could be, because there didn’t seem like any other way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-manson/as-a-performer-i-wanted-to-be-the-loudest-most-persistent-alarm-clock/) [Marilyn Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-manson/) > [I owe my life to Justin Beiber. I was in a coma for two years, Until one of the Nurses played his songs on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-owe-my-life-to-justin-beiber-i-was-in-a-coma-for-two-years-until/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was in a coma for a long time and in and out of the hospital for a year. For sure, when I'm in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/i-was-in-a-coma-for-a-long-time-and-in-and-out-of-the-hospital-for-a/) [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-rodrigo-nogueira/) > [ What happens \[in a coma\] is that you lose the grounding of the self, you no longer have access to any feeling of your… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/what-happens-in-a-coma-is-that-you-lose-the-grounding-of-the-self-you/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [“cause of the coma was still a subject of some debate, Dr. Villalobos had said, but most likely, it was caused by stress,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-eggers/cause-of-the-coma-was-still-a-subject-of-some-debate-dr-villalobos/) [Dave Eggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-eggers/) > [I'm bored with it all. Before slipping into a coma. He died 9 days later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-m-bored-with-it-all-before-slipping-into-a-coma-he-died-9-days-later/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [It's just something that washes over you. It's a day by day process. It hasn't even really struck me yet. People talk about Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-clark-duncan/it-s-just-something-that-washes-over-you-it-s-a-day-by-day-process-it/) [Michael Clark Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-clark-duncan/) Browse all 125 Coma quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It was always better to follow a bumpy course of one's own than a smooth but intractable trail set by another. The former was harder, yet far more vital. The latter was like a living death...except you didn't know you were dying because you were in a coma.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. 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