Quotes from Edmund Hillary

I think that a good mountaineer is usually a sensible mountaineer.

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

I will come again & conquer you because as a mountain you can't grow, but as a human, I can

I have to admit I do get a bit depressed at times and you know I think about the good old days when I was charging ahead.

Take advantage of the years of pioneering efforts. You might find this boring, as the young want to rush head on, as it were.

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

My most important projects have been the building and maintaining of schools and medical clinics for my dear friends in the Himalaya and helping restore their beautiful monasteries, too.

My mother really was the strength in our family. She would sort of keep us in line and I admired her very much .

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

Many people have been getting too casual about climbing Everest. I forecast a disaster many times.

I never talk about being leaders and all the rest of it. I can only remember one or two occasions in my life when I actually issued orders, and I felt thoroughly miserable after doing it.

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.