--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A wise man ought always to follow the…" description: "\"“A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/w-k-marriott-52354_advice_a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-pa_1839810.jpg" --- # A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by… ![“A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.” quote by W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/w-k-marriott-52354_advice_a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-pa_1839810.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/w-k-marriott-52354_advice_a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-pa_1839810.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/w-k-marriott-52354_advice_a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-pa_1839810.jpg) > ““A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.”” [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emulating great figures can lend prestige to one's work even if one's skill falls short. **In simple terms:** Imitate the great to gain their aura. Key Takeaway Seek role models, adopt their habits. Themes imitation aspiration legacy Mood reflective inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career development - artistic growth - personal branding - leadership Key Concepts self‑improvement social influence Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance imitation with personal authenticity? - What qualities of great figures truly align with your values? A Different Perspective Mimicry may stifle originality if over‑relied upon. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Great men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-men/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-wise-man-ought-always-to-follow-the-paths-beaten-by-great-men-and/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Force ought to follow justice and not to precede.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-coke/force-ought-to-follow-justice-and-not-to-precede/) [Edward Coke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-coke/) > [When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/when-it-is-not-in-our-power-to-follow-what-is-true-we-ought-to-follow/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“Even lords ought to follow the customs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/even-lords-ought-to-follow-the-customs/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [Eh! Je suis leur chef, il fallait bien les suivre. (Ah well! I am their leader, I really ought to follow them.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandre-auguste-ledru-rollin/eh-je-suis-leur-chef-il-fallait-bien-les-suivre-ah-well-i-am-their/) Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin > [Variant: When it is not in our power to follow what is true, we ought to follow what is most probable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/variant-when-it-is-not-in-our-power-to-follow-what-is-true-we-ought/) [Rene Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [“To be something, to be himself, and always at one with himself, a man must act as he speaks, must know what course he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/to-be-something-to-be-himself-and-always-at-one-with-himself-a-man/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The most dangerous thing you can do is to take any one impulse of your own nature and set it up as the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-dangerous-thing-you-can-do-is-to-take-any-one-impulse-of-2/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [If, therefore, there is any one superior in virtue and in the power of performing the best actions, him we ought to follow and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/if-therefore-there-is-any-one-superior-in-virtue-and-in-the-power-of/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“You're the thunder you ought to follow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/you-re-the-thunder-you-ought-to-follow/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [And when it is done, we ought to follow the example by disarming ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-william-norris/and-when-it-is-done-we-ought-to-follow-the-example-by-disarming/) [George William Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-william-norris/) > [“Most follow paths because it’s easier. I create my own to remind others they can too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-bekoe/most-follow-paths-because-it-s-easier-i-create-my-own-to-remind/) [Marion Bekoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-bekoe/) > [“Dare to follow your own paths. Dare to be yourself. Dare to be different.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-giftyakita/dare-to-follow-your-own-paths-dare-to-be-yourself-dare-to-be-different/) [Lailah GiftyAkita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-giftyakita/) > [“Adults follow paths. Children explore. Adults are content to walk the same way, hundreds of times, or thousands; perhaps it never occurs to adults…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/adults-follow-paths-children-explore-adults-are-content-to-walk-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Sometimes in the mountains the animals make paths by using the same route again and again. If you don't know what you're doing, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-adelstein/sometimes-in-the-mountains-the-animals-make-paths-by-using-the-same/) [Jake Adelstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-adelstein/) ## More by W.K. Marriott > [“...if one is on the spot, disorders are seen as they spring up, and one can quickly remedy them; but if one is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/if-one-is-on-the-spot-disorders-are-seen-as-they-spring-up-and-one/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“Men will not look at things as they really are, but as they wish them to be--and are ruined.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/men-will-not-look-at-things-as-they-really-are-but-as-they-wish-them/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can, and for this they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/the-wish-to-acquire-is-in-truth-very-natural-and-common-and-men-2/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“Those who by valorous ways become princes...acquire a principality with difficulty, but they keep it with ease.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/those-who-by-valorous-ways-become-princes-acquire-a-principality-with/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“A general rule is drawn which never or rarely fails: that he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/a-general-rule-is-drawn-which-never-or-rarely-fails-that-he-who-is/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) > [“It is in reference to Pope Julius that Machiavelli moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women, and concludes that it is the bold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-k-marriott/it-is-in-reference-to-pope-julius-that-machiavelli-moralizes-on-the/) [W.K. Marriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) [Explore all 7 W.K. Marriott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-k-marriott/) ## More Advice quotes > [The sensible person is always serious about sensible advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-sensible-person-is-always-serious-about-sensible-advice/) Mak\_786 > [I ask for tips, for advice. What I have also learnt is that I need to do things that are good for me. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. Sweet, honest, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/if-your-clothes-are-enough-to-drive-would-be-friends-away-they-re-not/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“My kingdom not for a horse, but for a good piece of advice!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/my-kingdom-not-for-a-horse-but-for-a-good-piece-of-advice/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I always advise people not to act upon the advice that I give them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/i-always-advise-people-not-to-act-upon-the-advice-that-i-give-them/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [ \[A\]s you partake of the world's bill of fare, that's darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-seuss/a-s-you-partake-of-the-world-s-bill-of-fare-that-s-darned-good-advice/) [Dr. Seuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-seuss/) > [My relationship with Ibrahimovic was completely neutral. He is not the type of player to approach the younger players and give them advice. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-coman/my-relationship-with-ibrahimovic-was-completely-neutral-he-is-not-the/) [Kingsley Coman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-coman/) [Browse all 8,535 Advice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "W.K. 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