Pythagoras — "Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will …"
Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it easy and agreeable.
Get This Quote & Author's Image Illustrated On:
Click any product to generate a realistic preview. Up to 3 at a time.
* Initial load can take up to 90 seconds — revising the preview in another color is nearly instant.
Kitchen
Apparel
Other
More from Pythagoras
"Turn sharp blades away from you."
"Don't leave the outline of a pan in ashes."
"Do not give sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids until you have balanced the account of your soul with what is right."
"Anger begins with folly and ends with repentance."
"No one is free who has not obtained the empire of himself."
About Pythagoras (c. 570-495 BCE)
Greek philosopher and mathematician whose school in Croton combined geometry (the Pythagorean theorem), number-mysticism, and a religious-vegetarian way of life. Closely associated with Thales of Miletus (earlier pre-Socratic and the first philosopher). For an intellectual contrast, see Heraclitus, pre-Socratic Greek philosopher of flux — Heraclitus called Pythagoras 'the chief of swindlers' — among the founding insults of the philosophical-rivalry tradition. Their 'all is flux' vs 'all is number' poles still organize the philosophy of mathematics today (Platonist vs anti-realist).
Verification
Confirmed
Found in 2 providers: grok,gemini
2 sources checked
Understanding this quote
What it means
This quote advises choosing the right path even when it's hard or uncomfortable, because habit and repetition will gradually make it feel natural. It rejects the easy route in favor of the superior one. The core idea is that discipline transforms hardship into ease — what once required grinding effort becomes second nature through consistent practice. Do what's right, not what's comfortable, and persistence will reward you.
Relevance to Pythagoras
Pythagoras founded a strict philosophical brotherhood in Croton with demanding codes — vegetarianism, communal property, silence, and rigorous mathematical study. The community's entire ethos was built on disciplined practice as the path to wisdom and spiritual purity. His belief in metempsychosis meant the soul improved through righteous living across lifetimes. Just as mathematical truth demands rigorous proof, he believed virtue demanded rigorous habit. Hardship endured for excellence was the defining Pythagorean commitment.
The era
In 6th-century BC Greece, competing city-states, emerging democracy, and rival philosophical schools created urgent pressure to define how one should live. Greek culture prized arete — excellence achieved through sustained effort, not birthright. Mystery cults and religious traditions offered conflicting life-paths. Choosing deliberately among them carried profound consequences. Pythagoras's community was one of several demanding radical commitment to a difficult regimen, reflecting a broader cultural belief that the worthy life required choosing difficulty over comfort.
AI-generated insights based on extensive research and information for context. Factual errors? Email [email protected].