The quotation suggests that willingness can change how effort is experienced. A task may still require time, energy or patience, but choosing to undertake it freely can make it feel less burdensome. The emphasis is therefore on attitude: resistance can add a sense of difficulty, while voluntary commitment can make the same obligation easier to accept.

Jefferson included the maxim among his practical rules for conduct in his letter to Thomas Jefferson Smith. In that setting, it forms part of broader advice about discipline, moderation and everyday judgement. The statement should not be read literally as claiming that willing actions are never difficult. Rather, it expresses a practical observation that motivation and acceptance can influence how people experience demanding work or responsibilities. It encourages a disposition of readiness towards necessary or chosen tasks instead of approaching them primarily as impositions.