If I'm selecting a group, the first thing I look for is a record of achievement . . . If (candidates achieve) in small things, there's a very good chance they'll perform well in big things.

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

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

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

Motivation is the single most important factor in any sort of success.

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.

I found fear stimulating. Particularly after you've done something that you'd been frightened of at the time, but you carried through and did the job.