Edmund Hillary

My relationship with the mountains actually started when I was 16. Every year, a group used to be taken from Auckland Grammar down to the Tangariro National Park for a skiing holiday. ”

When I was climbing, I built up a close relationship with the Sherpa people. ”

If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. ”

Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down. ”

The truth is, I'm just a rough old New Zealander who has enjoyed many challenges in his life. ”

When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable. ”

Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain. ”

Good planning is important. I've also regarded a sense of humor as one of the most important things on a big expedition. When you're in a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you're depressed about the chances of success, someone who can make you laugh eases the tension. ”

I realised a little bit to my astonishment that I can give a lecture for a thousand people, and there will be this tumultuous applause, so, you know, I have the feeling well, it can't be all that bad. ”

When I was 50 years old, I actually decided to draw up a list of half a dozen things that I really hadn't done very well, and I was going to make efforts to improve. One of them was skiing, and I really did become a very much better skier. ”