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

I like to think of Everest as a great mountaineering challenge, and when you've got people just streaming up the mountain - well, many of them are just climbing it to get their name in the paper, really.

I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe.

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

I would like to be remembered for the schools and hospitals and bridges and all the other activities that we did with the Sherpas. Unquestionably, they are the things I feel that were the most worthwhile of everything I was involved in.

I had a very strong desire to carry out adventures, but in those early days I didn't actually do any. I just dreamt about it.

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!