--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sign cutting taught me that terrain…" description: "\"“Sign cutting taught me that terrain determines the route the prey follows 90 percent of the time: you generally have only to follow the path of least ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/jeffery-deaver-2663_goals_sign-cutting-taught-me-that-terrain-dete_2559467.jpg" --- # Sign cutting taught me that terrain determines the route… ![“Sign cutting taught me that terrain determines the route the prey follows 90 percent of the time: you generally have only to follow the path of least resistance to be pretty sure of remaining on the trail of your target. Henry Loving was different. His route took him in directions that didn’t seem…” quote by Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/jeffery-deaver-2663_goals_sign-cutting-taught-me-that-terrain-dete_2559467.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/jeffery-deaver-2663_goals_sign-cutting-taught-me-that-terrain-dete_2559467.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/450/jeffery-deaver-2663_goals_sign-cutting-taught-me-that-terrain-dete_2559467.jpg) > ““Sign cutting taught me that terrain determines the route the prey follows 90 percent of the time: you generally have only to follow the path of least resistance to be pretty sure of remaining on the trail of your target. Henry Loving was different. His route took him in directions that didn’t seem to make sense, less direct and more difficult. But”” [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Understanding that natural patterns often guide behavior, but exceptional individuals may choose unconventional paths to achieve goals. **In simple terms:** Most follow easy routes; some choose hard ones. Key Takeaway Recognize when to follow the path of least resistance and when to innovate. Themes strategy behavior innovation leadership Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice insightful When to use this quote - business planning - personal growth - military tactics - research - creative projects Key Concepts systems thinking decision making human nature Questions to Reflect On - When should you deviate from the obvious path? - What risks arise from choosing a harder route? A Different Perspective Not all targets can be reached by the easiest route; complexity may demand extra effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Follow Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/follow-path/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Path of least resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-of-least-resistance/) [Path Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path-resistance-293533/) [Route Prey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/route-prey-1591927/) [Taught Terrain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught-terrain-1591929/) [Terrain Determines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrain-determines-1591928/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [“your brain is structured to take the path of least resistance, because that's the less threatening way to go—but”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-disalvo/your-brain-is-structured-to-take-the-path-of-least-resistance-because/) [David DiSalvo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-disalvo/) > [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/) > [“path of least resistance, or the walk over hot coals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/path-of-least-resistance-or-the-walk-over-hot-coals/) [Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/) > [We turned our gaze from the castles in the distance, eyes cast down on the path of least resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush/we-turned-our-gaze-from-the-castles-in-the-distance-eyes-cast-down-on/) [Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush/) ## More by Jeffery Deaver > [Trying to write books with a subject matter or in a genre or style you're not familiar with is the best way to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/trying-to-write-books-with-a-subject-matter-or-in-a-genre-or-style/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“I realized finally what the problem was,” I told Maree. “It wasn’t him. It was my wife. She was treating him like a normal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/i-realized-finally-what-the-problem-was-i-told-maree-it-wasn-t-him-it/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“But then someday the truth would come out. It always did. Repress what you will, someday the truth comes out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/but-then-someday-the-truth-would-come-out-it-always-did-repress-what/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“Stanton clawed his way to the bedside table and managed to grab his knife. He jabbed it into Rhyme. Once, twice. But the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/stanton-clawed-his-way-to-the-bedside-table-and-managed-to-grab-his/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [Hardcover books are fairly expensive these days and to read one requires a significant commitment of time in our busy society. 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She’d largely recovered from the Graham ignominy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/dubois-s-observations-were-back-she-d-largely-recovered-from-the/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“Maree may have noted that I said “wife” and not “ex,” which imparted some information to her. She was smarter than the package suggested.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/maree-may-have-noted-that-i-said-wife-and-not-ex-which-imparted-some/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“You see tumbleweeds? You see cowpokes? Indians? This isn’t the streets of Laredo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/you-see-tumbleweeds-you-see-cowpokes-indians-this-isn-t-the-streets/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“The young woman shrugged, walked to her computer, picked it up. She flopped down on the couch and scanned through it. This was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/the-young-woman-shrugged-walked-to-her-computer-picked-it-up-she/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) > [“As a matter of fact, yeah, they were foolproof. The problem is that you don't have to protect yourself against fools. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffery-deaver/as-a-matter-of-fact-yeah-they-were-foolproof-the-problem-is-that-you/) [Jeffery Deaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) [Explore all 154 Jeffery Deaver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffery-deaver/) ## More Goals quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Every drop of rain hits its appointed target.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/every-drop-of-rain-hits-its-appointed-target/) [John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/) > [“Achieving mental harmony is one of the greatest goals and experiences in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kambiz-mostofizadeh/achieving-mental-harmony-is-one-of-the-greatest-goals-and-experiences/) [Kambiz Mostofizadeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kambiz-mostofizadeh/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/) [Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/) > [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [“What shapes us is not always our achievements but our omissions. Not lies; simply the truths we don’t tell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-tudor/what-shapes-us-is-not-always-our-achievements-but-our-omissions-not/) [C.J. Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-tudor/) [Browse all 21,276 Goals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sign cutting taught me that terrain determines the route the prey follows 90 percent of the time: you generally have only to follow the path of least resistance to be pretty sure of remaining on the trail of your target. Henry Loving was different. His route took him in directions that didn’t seem to make sense, less direct and more difficult. 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