--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was a pity thoughts always ran the…" description: "\"It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like water in old ditches.\" — Walter de La Mare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png" --- # It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like… ![“It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like water in old ditches.” quote by Walter de La Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png) > “It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like water in old ditches.” [Walter de La Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thoughts follow the path of least resistance, like water flowing in old ditches. **In simple terms:** Thoughts take the easiest route. Key Takeaway Recognize and challenge habitual thinking patterns. Themes psychology habit mindset reflection Mood thoughtful introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - problem solving Key Concepts cognitive bias mental flow Questions to Reflect On - How can you redirect thoughts toward more productive paths? - What habits reinforce easy thinking? A Different Perspective Changing thoughts requires conscious effort and new habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ditches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ditches-1010225/) [Old Ditches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-ditches-5876595/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-thoughts-5876594/) [Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ran/) [Thoughts Ran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-ran-274230/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [But my thoughts ran a wool-gathering; and I did like the countryman, who looked for his ass while he was mounted on his back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/but-my-thoughts-ran-a-wool-gathering-and-i-did-like-the-countryman/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [A thousand thoughts ran through my mind. Well, at least six or seven, anyway, because a thousand thoughts are a lot. Try counting your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-howard/a-thousand-thoughts-ran-through-my-mind-well-at-least-six-or-seven/) [Linda Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-howard/) > [My thoughts ran a wool-gathering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/my-thoughts-ran-a-wool-gathering/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [“But my thoughts ran a wool-gathering; and I did like the countryman, who looked for his ass while he was mounted on his back.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/but-my-thoughts-ran-a-wool-gathering-and-i-did-like-the-countryman-2/) [Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes-saavedra/) > [So many thoughts ran through my head. Most of them contained the same, simply three words so often strung together that it was too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-many-thoughts-ran-through-my-head-most-of-them-contained-the-same/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I realised I had a stream of thoughts about him which ran for the most part below conscious level. I noticed jets spurting up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/i-realised-i-had-a-stream-of-thoughts-about-him-which-ran-for-the/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Excellence is a signal to God that we are going to dig our ditches but if You don't make it rain, all of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-henderson/excellence-is-a-signal-to-god-that-we-are-going-to-dig-our-ditches/) [Jeff Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-henderson/) > [Bitches get stitches they end up in ditches, so get the riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keys/bitches-get-stitches-they-end-up-in-ditches-so-get-the-riches/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keys/) > [“Man is but lost in wishes, Of wealth, fame and riches, This airy castle he stitches, With logic that are his ditches.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munindra-misra/man-is-but-lost-in-wishes-of-wealth-fame-and-riches-this-airy-castle/) [Munindra Misra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munindra-misra/) > [Dead in the ditches, I hope you miss me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hollywood-undead/dead-in-the-ditches-i-hope-you-miss-me/) [Hollywood Undead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hollywood-undead/) > [Some guys dig ditches, I have a band. It's what I do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-herman/some-guys-dig-ditches-i-have-a-band-it-s-what-i-do/) [Woody Herman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-herman/) > [“I said, "There's ditches his size, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-woodrell/i-said-there-s-ditches-his-size-too/) [Daniel Woodrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-woodrell/) > [Snitches get stiches and end up in ditches!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/snitches-get-stiches-and-end-up-in-ditches/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Snitches end up in ditches cuz they are sorry ass bitches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-moores/snitches-end-up-in-ditches-cuz-they-are-sorry-ass-bitches/) [Sarah Moores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-moores/) > [If s0me1 ditches u kn0w dat there's s0me1 better than him!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/just-in-love/if-s0me1-ditches-u-kn0w-dat-there-s-s0me1-better-than-him/) [Just In Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/just-in-love/) ## More by Walter de La Mare > [“In these days of faith-cures, and hypnotism, and telepathy, and subliminalities – why, the simple old world grows very confusing. But rarely, very rarely novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/in-these-days-of-faith-cures-and-hypnotism-and-telepathy-and/) [Walter de la Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [“When indeed you positively press your face, so to speak, against the crystalline window of your eyes, your mind is apt to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/when-indeed-you-positively-press-your-face-so-to-speak-against-the/) [Walter de la Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [What is the world, O soldiers? It is I, I, this incessant snow, This northern sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/what-is-the-world-o-soldiers-it-is-i-i-this-incessant-snow-this/) [Walter de La Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [“Away There is no sorrow Time heals never; No loss, betrayal, Beyond repair. 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Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [It is a pity that, commonly, more care is had--yea, and that among very wise men--to find out rather a cunning man for their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ascham/it-is-a-pity-that-commonly-more-care-is-had-yea-and-that-among-very/) [Roger Ascham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ascham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“How dare I, Mrs Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/how-dare-i-mrs-reed-how-dare-i-because-it-is-the-truth-you-think-i/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [Pity is cruel. Pity destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/pity-is-cruel-pity-destroys/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [Whoever will not love his enemies cannot know the Lord and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us to love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/whoever-will-not-love-his-enemies-cannot-know-the-lord-and-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [Pity the planet, all joy gone from this sweet volcanic cone; peace to our children when they fall in small war on the heel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lowell/pity-the-planet-all-joy-gone-from-this-sweet-volcanic-cone-peace-to/) [Robert Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lowell/) > [Please dont say you dont miss him. Just to pity me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-yap/please-dont-say-you-dont-miss-him-just-to-pity-me/) [William Yap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-yap/) > [It's really a pity that there are observers who view political events like comic strips. There has to be a Zorro, there has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sankara/it-s-really-a-pity-that-there-are-observers-who-view-political-events/) [Thomas Sankara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sankara/) > [Do not be proud of your inconsistency. It is a pity, it is a pity that we should be equipped like this. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/do-not-be-proud-of-your-inconsistency-it-is-a-pity-it-is-a-pity-that/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [The only justice is to follow the sincere intuition of the soul, angry or gentle. Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-justice-is-to-follow-the-sincere-intuition-of-the-soul-angry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is not like studying German, where you mull along, in a groping, uncertain way, for thirty years; and at last, just as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/it-is-not-like-studying-german-where-you-mull-along-in-a-groping/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Wherever I am, I see the yoke on women in some form or another. On some it sits easy for they are but beasts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-may-alcott/wherever-i-am-i-see-the-yoke-on-women-in-some-form-or-another-on-some/) [Abby May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-may-alcott/) > [“Self-pity is the worst disability a person can have, Callie. It's crippling.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-terrell/self-pity-is-the-worst-disability-a-person-can-have-callie-it-s/) [Shelley Terrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-terrell/) [Browse all 2,046 Pity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like water in old ditches.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Walter de La Mare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-easiest-way-like-water-in-old/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-easiest-way-like-water-in-old/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fe2/walter-de-la-mare-9548_pity_it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-ea_756919.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It was a pity thoughts always ran the easiest way, like water in old ditches.” — Walter de La Mare", "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": "Walter de La Mare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It was a pity thoughts always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-easiest-way-like-water-in-old/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/it-was-a-pity-thoughts-always-ran-the-easiest-way-like-water-in-old/#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 } } ] } ```