Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was given a choice between two matters, he chose the one that was easier of the two.
Imam al-Bazzar recorded this narration, and Imam al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat; its chain contains a narrator whom I do not know.