These pieces are talked about as being hard. And until you start learning them you never realize just how hard. Many concert pianists say that, as a group, they are the most difficult things they have ever practised.
Why then do students want to work on them? Firstly, they are beautiful and poetic with interesting textures and wonderful harmony. Secondly, they present an enormous challenge, both technically and musically. They will get you to focus as never before and, even if you manage only bits of them accurately and slowly, you will have achieved something and you be will pleased with yourself.
Always have a go, but be realistic about the possibilities of success.
The easiest ones in my order of difficulty (and this is mainly subjective) are:
Op.10 E flat minor, F minor, Op.25 A flat, C sharp minor, Op.10 E. You could have go at Op.10 C minor also
Ferocious ones: Op.10/1 in C (the hardest of the lot!), A minor, C sharp minor, Op25 G sharp minor, A minor
In the Trios Nouvelle Etudes, the A flat one is easy, the F minor harder, and the D flat one is very tricky (it has beautifully clashy harmony).
Someone asked about the E minor from Op.25. It is very tricky, particularly where the main idea returns. Here you have to play chords without using the thumb, which feels very strange. You would get many rewards from working on the middle section, which is a lot more conventional in its figuration, and has a wonderful tune.
Good luck.
Topic: which chopin etude to start with?