Edmund Hillary

When you go to the mountains, you see them and you admire them. In a sense, they give you a challenge, and you try to express that challenge by climbing them.

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.

I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe.

The flaw of an amateur is to assume what's in our head is what's on the page.

You don't work on something for six years and be blind to the myriad of other approaches.

I have always had confidence in my own ability.