They say that if the Swiss had designed these mountains they’d be rather flatter.

Just a reminder – a guidebook is no substitute for skill, experience, judgment and lots of tension.

If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.

Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.

The first question which you will ask and which I must try to answer is this; What is the use of climbing Mount Everest? and my answer must at once be, it is no use. There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever.

Only if you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people.

I soon learned that Everest wasn’t a private affair. It belonged to many men.

Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer.

You guys going up? Yes, yes, we go up. You may be going a lot higher than you think!

There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was.

Experience comes from bad judgment.

John Wayne never wore Lycra.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature‘s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.

I’ve climbed with some of the best climbers in the world, more importantly, to me, they are some of the best people in the world. That’s another reason why I climb.

Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.

Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.

Mountains are not fair or unfair, they are just dangerous.

Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.

Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach.

I have two doctors, my left leg and my right.

Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.

The greatest hazard in life is to risk NOTHING.

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

I believe that the ascent of mountains forms an essential chapter in the complete duty of man, and that it is wrong to leave any district without setting foot on its highest peak.

When you ride your bike, you’re working your legs, but your mind is on a treadmill. When you play chess, your mind is clicking along, but your body is stagnating. Climbing brings it together in a beautiful, magical way. The adrenaline is flowing, and it’s flowing all the time.

Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you’re climbing it.

One thing to remember on the Eiger, never look up, or you may need a plastic surgeon.

I do recall that El Cap seemed to be in much better condition than I was.

If you want to climb it badly enough, you will. So… why bother ?

What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money.

Each climber loses one finger or toe once in a while. This is a small but important reason for Polish climbers success. Western climbers haven‘t lost as many fingers or toes.

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

On this proud and beautiful mountain we have lived hours of fraternal, warm and exalting nobility. Here for a few days we have ceased to be slaves and have really been men. It is hard to return to servitude.

I may not be able to pull on the smallest of holds, but those I can pull on I can pull on all day long.

We don’t live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means, and that is what life is for.

– Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest, Sir? – Because it is there.

An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.

Life is brought down to the basics: if you are warm, regular, healthy, not thirsty or hungry, then you are not on a mountain… Climbing at altitude is like hitting your head against a brick wall – it’s great when you stop.

They say you can’t do it, but sometimes it doesn’t always work.