Ann Oliveri wrote an exteremely interesting line in her blog that has me thinking:

There are shorter ways out, but they are always behind you.

It was in the context of a study as to why people always follow the circuitous route out of IKEA stores. But looked at more broadly, it seems profound too (maybe change the "always" to "ofen" or "sometimes").

Once you’ve moved forward, it is a defeat to move backwards. Even if it gets you where you want to go?