[A difficult childhood gave me] a kind of cocky confidence. ... I could never have so little that I hadn't had less. It took away my fear.

I have found adventure in flying, in world travel, in business, and even close at hand... Adventure is a state of mind and spirit.

In the case of an airplane, speed is determined by the outcome of the conflict between thrust of the power and drag of the plane. So it also is with humans.

It comes with faith, for with complete faith there is no fear of what faces you in life or death.

Earthbound souls know only the underside of the atmosphere in which they live . . . but go higher - above the dust and water vapor - and the sky turns dark until one can see the stars at noon.

I'd have given my right eye to be an astronaut.

And to live without risk for me would have been tantamount to death.