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

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

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

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

Mount Everest, you beat me the first time, but I'll beat you the next time because you've grown all you are going to grow... but I'm still growing!

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.

On the summit of Everest, I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there.