The path of least resistance and least trouble is a mental rut already made. It requires troublesome work to undertake the alternation of old beliefs.

Dewey is describing how habits of thought function like well-worn tracks: once a belief-system is established, it becomes the easiest route for the mind to follow, minimizing effort and uncertainty. The “path of least resistance” is not presented as wisdom but as inertia—an unreflective reliance on what is already familiar. By contrasting this with the “troublesome work” of altering beliefs, the quote underscores a central Deweyan theme: genuine inquiry and learning are active, effortful processes that require confronting discomfort, revising assumptions, and reorganizing experience. The line also implies a moral and civic dimension: progress in education and democracy depends on resisting mental ruts and cultivating reflective, experimental thinking.