I chose life over death for myself and my friends... I believe it is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all.

A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.

Optimism is true moral courage.

Life to me is the greatest of all games. The danger lies in treating it as a trivial game, a game to be taken lightly, and a game in which the rules don't matter much. The rules matter a great deal. The game has to be played fairly or it is no game at all. And even to win the game is not the chief end. The chief end is to win it honorably and splendidly.

From the sentimental point of view, it is the last great Polar journey that can be made.

If I had not some strength of will I would make a first class drunkard.

I have often marveled at the thin line which separates success from failure.