The luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create.

Take it all in all, I do not believe anybody on earth has a worse time than an Emperor penguin.

And if the worst, or best, happens, and Death comes for you in the snow, he comes disguised as Sleep, and you greet him rather as a welcome friend than a gruesome foe.

In Antarctica you get to know people so well that in comparison you do not seem to know the people in civilization at all.

I might have speculated on my chances of going to Heaven; but candidly I did not care. I could not have wept if I had tried. I had no wish to review the evils of my past. But the past did seem to have been a bit wasted. The road to Hell may be paved with good intentions: the road to Heaven is paved with lost opportunities.

The luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create.

I am glad The Worst Journey is coming out in Penguins: after all it is largely about penguins.