The only person you are fighting is yourself and your stubbornness to engage in new circumstances.

In climbing, having confidence in your partners is no small concern. One climber's actions can affect the welfare of the entire team.

There is nothing glamorous or romantic about war. It's mostly about random pointless death and misery.

Although the far territory of the extreme can exert an intoxicating pull on susceptible individuals of all bents, extremism seems to be especially prevalent among those inclined by temperament or upbringing toward religious pursuits. Faith is the very antithesis of reason, injudiciousness a crucial component of spiritual devotion. And when religious fanaticism supplants ratiocination, all bets are suddenly off.

Heaven, for me, is one focused project - it's like a weird form of autism.

Most climbers aren't in fact deranged, they're just infected with a particularly virulent strain of the Human Condition.

I think I understand that religious faith which makes the holy brave and strong; my strength is just somewhere else--it's in myself...I do not fear what may await me, though I'm equally confident that nothing awaits.