Edmund Hillary Quotes
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I can remember when I first went into the Himalayan area way back in 1951. Money, for instance, was not important at all to the local people. But now, finance has become just as important to them as it is to us, and this is a change maybe not for the better.
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Ever since the morning of May 29, 1953, when Tenzing Norgay and I became the first climbers to step onto the summit of Mount Everest, I've been called a great adventurer.
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I believe that of all the things I have done, exciting though many of them have been, there's no doubt in my mind that the most worthwhile have been the establishing of schools and hospitals, and the rebuilding of monasteries in the mountains.
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I was extremely lucky that I had two great wives. It sounds a bit funny to say that, but it's absolutely true.
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If I wished to do something, even if I couldn't find anyone who wanted to make the effort with me, I would go out solo climbing. I did find solo climbing very challenging and a little frightening. You knew that you were completely on your own, and you had to overcome all the problems and possible dangers.
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While on top of Everest, I looked across the valley towards the great peak Makalu and mentally worked out a route about how it could be climbed. It showed me that even though I was standing on top of the world, it wasn't the end of everything. I was still looking beyond to other interesting challenges.
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I hate being called an 'icon.' I just don't like it. That's all there is to it.
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When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.
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Many people have been getting too casual about climbing Everest. I forecast a disaster many times.
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Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down.
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On the summit of Everest, I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there.
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I have never regarded myself as a hero, but Tenzing undoubtedly was.
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I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it.
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I was definitely very much a country boy.
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I realised a little bit to my astonishment that I can give a lecture for a thousand people, and there will be this tumultuous applause, so, you know, I have the feeling well, it can't be all that bad.
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No one remembers who climbed Mount Everest the second time.
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The truth is, I'm just a rough old New Zealander who has enjoyed many challenges in his life.
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Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.
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I enjoyed climbing with other people, good friends, but I did quite a lot of solo climbing, too.
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It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.
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I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first thought was one of a little bit of surprise. I was a little bit surprised that here I was, Ed Hillary, on top of Mt. Everest. After all, this is the ambition of most mountaineers.
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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.
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I don't regard myself as a cracking good climber. I'm just strong in the back. I have a lot of enthusiasm, and I'm good on ice.
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I really haven't liked the commercialization of mountaineering, particularly of Mt. Everest. By paying $65,000, you can be conducted to the summit by a couple of good guides.