It's one of the ironies of mountaineering,' said Young, 'that grown men are happy to spend months preparing for a climb, weeks rehearsing and honing their skills, and at least a day attempting to reach the summit. And then, having achieved their goal, they spend just a few moments enjoying the experience, along with one or two equally certifiable companions who have little in common other than wanting to do it all again, but a little higher.

If you make a deal with a fool, don't be surprised when they act foolishly.

When a book comes out I wonder if one person will buy it. It's agony. Of course it's stupid, but it's agony.

I wrote a million words in the first year, and I could never have done that outside of prison.

Who Saddam Hussein kills, dies.

Are parents always more ambitious for their children than they are for themselves?

The popularity of an individual in life often only manifests itself in death.