I have a number of heroes I still have warm feelings about. [Derek] Shackleton, for instance, was definitely, and still is, one of my great heroes.

I think I mainly climb mountains because I get a great deal of enjoyment out of it. I never attempt to analyze these things too thoroughly, but I think that all mountaineers do get a great deal of satisfaction out of overcoming some challenge which they think is very difficult for them, or which perhaps may be a little dangerous.

I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it.

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

I never talk about being leaders and all the rest of it. I can only remember one or two occasions in my life when I actually issued orders, and I felt thoroughly miserable after doing it.

It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.

Once I've decided to do something, I do usually try to carry it through to fruition.