--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Always run to the short way; and the…" description: "\"Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a pur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/marcus-aurelius-139_artifice_always-run-to-the-short-way-and-the-shor_1436656.jpg" --- # Always run to the short way; and the short way is the… ![“Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/marcus-aurelius-139_artifice_always-run-to-the-short-way-and-the-shor_1436656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/marcus-aurelius-139_artifice_always-run-to-the-short-way-and-the-shor_1436656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/695/marcus-aurelius-139_artifice_always-run-to-the-short-way-and-the-shor_1436656.jpg) > “Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. For such a purpose frees a man from trouble, and warfare, and all artifice and ostentatious display.” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## 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 simplest, most rational path avoids unnecessary conflict and pretension, leading to a smoother life. **In simple terms:** Simple, rational choices prevent trouble and show. Key Takeaway Follow the most reasonable, uncomplicated course. Themes simplicity reason efficiency Mood calm focused Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - daily decisions - conflict resolution - project planning - personal finance Key Concepts Stoicism rationalism Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify the truly natural path? - When might a more elaborate approach be necessary? A Different Perspective Complex problems may still need nuanced solutions beyond the “short way”. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accordingly Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accordingly-say-5131047/) [Artifice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artifice/) [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Conformity Soundest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity-soundest-5131046/) [Display](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/display/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Ostentatious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ostentatious/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Run Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-short-4154678/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Say Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-conformity-2983483/) [Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/short/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If I should say anything that is not in conformity with what is held by the Holy Roman Catholic Church, it will be through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-i-should-say-anything-that-is-not-in-conformity-with-what-is-held/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was built for the long run, not for the short dash, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shatner/i-was-built-for-the-long-run-not-for-the-short-dash-i-guess/) [William Shatner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shatner/) > [In the long run, a short cut seldom is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/in-the-long-run-a-short-cut-seldom-is/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [The extravagant and ostentatious lifestyles that pass for charisma in a time when almost anybody talks about charisma but if you think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-bangs/the-extravagant-and-ostentatious-lifestyles-that-pass-for-charisma-in/) [Lester Bangs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-bangs/) > [How different is the ready hand, tearful eye, and soothing voice, from the ostentatious appearance which is called pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-porter/how-different-is-the-ready-hand-tearful-eye-and-soothing-voice-from/) [Jane Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-porter/) > [You have overburdened your argument with ostentatious erudition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-have-overburdened-your-argument-with-ostentatious-erudition/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [The man who is ostentatious of his modesty is twin to the statue that wears a fig-leaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-man-who-is-ostentatious-of-his-modesty-is-twin-to-the-statue-that/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“I don't use big words to show off because it's ostentatious.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/i-don-t-use-big-words-to-show-off-because-it-s-ostentatious/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [They've listed my name in the dictionary - 'Imeldific' is used to mean ostentatious extravagance... But the truth will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-marcos/they-ve-listed-my-name-in-the-dictionary-imeldific-is-used-to-mean/) [Imelda Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-marcos/) > [I think I have in fact been situated in most of the squares on the political checkerboard, one after another and sometimes simultaneously: as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/i-think-i-have-in-fact-been-situated-in-most-of-the-squares-on-the/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [The miserable consumption of the poor is partly the result of the ostentatious demands of the rich. 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"I have MANY names!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/the-afrit-batted-his-eyelashes-with-a-ostentatious-lack-of-concern/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Critics are always complaining about the materialism of hip-hop and accusing the artists of living way above their means. But this ostentatious sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-de-pury/critics-are-always-complaining-about-the-materialism-of-hip-hop-and/) [Simon de Pury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-de-pury/) ## More by Marcus Aurelius > [A man should be upright, not kept upright.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/a-man-should-be-upright-not-kept-upright/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Everything is mere opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/everything-is-mere-opinion/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If any man has done wrong, the harm is his own. But perhaps he has not done wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-any-man-has-done-wrong-the-harm-is-his-own-but-perhaps-he-has-not/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Pray look upon the plants and birds, the ants, spiders, and bees, and you will see them all exerting their nature, and busy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/pray-look-upon-the-plants-and-birds-the-ants-spiders-and-bees-and-you/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“We should remark the grace and fascination that there is even in the incidentals of Nature's processes.. When a loaf of bread,. for instance,.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-should-remark-the-grace-and-fascination-that-there-is-even-in-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [My true Self is free. 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The poet says that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/adorn-thyself-with-simplicity-and-with-indifference-towards-the/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Let it be your constant method to look into the design of people's actions, and see what they would be at, as often as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/let-it-be-your-constant-method-to-look-into-the-design-of-people-s/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Our life is a warfare, and a mere pilgrimage.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/our-life-is-a-warfare-and-a-mere-pilgrimage/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“If therefore it be a thing external that causes thy grief, know, that it is not that properly that doth cause it, but thine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/if-therefore-it-be-a-thing-external-that-causes-thy-grief-know-that/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Frightened of change? But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/at-dawn-when-you-have-trouble-getting-out-of-bed-tell-yourself-i-have/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) [Explore all 1,138 Marcus Aurelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## More Artifice quotes > [I did plays in college, and I have half of a play. But I'm kind of stuck. 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At the same time, when it works, there is a real tough immediacy and spontaneity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mcgann/films-are-artifice-we-re-telling-stories-on-film-at-the-same-time/) [Paul McGann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mcgann/) > [Holidays are in no sense an alternative to the congestion and bustle of the cities and work. Quite the contrary. People look to escape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baudrillard/holidays-are-in-no-sense-an-alternative-to-the-congestion-and-bustle/) [Jean Baudrillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baudrillard/) > [But since the Modernists (as they are commonly and rightly called) employ a very clever artifice, namely, to present their doctrines without order and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/but-since-the-modernists-as-they-are-commonly-and-rightly-called/) [Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/) > [Being blond is definitely a different state of mind. I can't really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blond has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/being-blond-is-definitely-a-different-state-of-mind-i-can-t-really/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Cupid is naked and does not like artifices contrived by beauty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/propertius/cupid-is-naked-and-does-not-like-artifices-contrived-by-beauty/) [Propertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/propertius/) > [The girl in the mirror caught my eye briefly...It is an uncanny feeling, that rare occasion when one catches a glimpse of oneself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/the-girl-in-the-mirror-caught-my-eye-briefly-it-is-an-uncanny-feeling/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Each day is a miracle that intoxicates me. I want more. I greet every morning like a new pleasure. 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Would you make no distinction between hypocrisy and devotion? Would you give them the same names, and respect the mask as you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/what-would-you-make-no-distinction-between-hypocrisy-and-devotion/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Art lies by its own artifice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/art-lies-by-its-own-artifice/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Browse all 166 Artifice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artifice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Always run to the short way; and the short way is the natural: accordingly say and do everything in conformity with the soundest reason. 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