June [Hillary] had been doing all these things - the Himalayas and all the rest of it - so we had done things together for a long time, and, particularly as far as our Sherpas were concerned, we had a very sound, I think, philosophy. So that made it very easy for us to agree on what should be done.

Challenge is what makes men. It will be the end when men stop looking for new challenges.

Strong motivation is the most important factor in getting you to the top

My grandmother I admired even more [than mother]. She was an Irish lady and a very kind-hearted person. She had a lot of talent, she painted extremely well. She was quite a strong factor in my life.

I hate being called an 'icon.' I just don't like it. That's all there is to it.

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

Adventuring can be for the ordinary person with ordinary qualities, such as I regard myself.