Well, some significant good (maybe most good) follows the well-tread path -- which is a path of least resistance too, but that's kind of bor-r-r-ing and thus un-educational at times. One reason that teachers HAVE TO BE inspiring, inspiring and emboldening as well as educational. To keep students from being bored.
Still, once off the beaten path, evil does follow paths of least resistance -- such paths end up in swamps.