Edmund Hillary Quotes

Powerful Edmund Hillary for Daily Growth

About Edmund Hillary

Edmund Percival Hillary (July 20, 1919 – January 11, 2008) was a renowned New Zealand mountaineer, explorer, and philanthropist, best known for being the first climber to conquer Mount Everest along with Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Hillary grew up on a beekeeping farm in Tuakau, where his early years instilled in him a love for nature and adventure. At the age of 21, he enlisted in the New Zealand Army during World War II, serving as an artillery officer until 1945. Post-war, Hillary became increasingly interested in mountaineering, driven by both personal challenge and a desire to explore uncharted territories. Hillary's first major climb was Mount Ollivier in 1940, followed by his successful ascent of Aoraki/Mount Cook in 1953, the highest mountain in New Zealand. It was this accomplishment that set Hillary on the path to summit Everest. In May 1953, along with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, he reached the peak of Mount Everest, an achievement that not only solidified his status as a national hero but also opened up opportunities for further expeditions and exploration. Hillary was deeply influenced by Sir Edmund Percival, who served as his mentor and guided him in mountaineering. His success on Everest, however, came with a profound sense of responsibility towards the Sherpa community, leading Hillary to establish the Himalayan Trust, which aimed at improving living conditions for Nepal's remote communities. In addition to his mountaineering achievements, Hillary authored several books, including "The Climbing of Everest" and "High Adventure: Living Dangerously and Loving It," sharing his stories and experiences with the world. Despite his numerous accolades, Hillary remained humble, once famously saying, "It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves." Edmund Hillary's life story is a testament to the power of perseverance, humility, and exploration, leaving behind an indelible impact on mountaineering and humanitarian endeavors.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves."

The quote by Edmund Hillary, "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves," suggests that overcoming physical challenges like climbing a mountain is less about defeating the mountain itself than it is about learning something essential about ourselves in the process of attempting such a feat. It implies that personal growth, self-discovery, and character development are often the true objectives when tackling significant obstacles or achieving great feats. The quote highlights the importance of introspection and self-awareness in our pursuit of goals and achievements.

"We were rewarded at the end by an unforgettable view."

This quote by Edmund Hillary suggests that the endurance, hardship, and effort invested during their climb to Mount Everest were amply repaid with a breathtaking, indelible sight of nature's grandeur at its conclusion. It underscores the transformative power of experiencing something remarkable that leaves an everlasting impression on one's memory and spirit.

"I think that anyone who climbs Fujiyama can climb any mountain in the world."

This quote by Sir Edmund Hillary suggests that overcoming challenges, such as climbing Mount Fujiyama, can serve as a foundation for conquering even greater challenges elsewhere, metaphorically speaking of any mountain or difficult task in the world. It implies that the skills, determination, and confidence gained from one achievement can be applied to others, regardless of their scale or perceived difficulty.

"Once a year go someplace you've never been before."

This quote by Edmund Hillary encourages us to seek new experiences and travel to places we have not visited before. The idea is to expand our horizons, learn from diverse cultures, and create unforgettable memories that enrich our lives. Travel allows us to grow as individuals, fostering empathy, understanding, and appreciation for the world beyond our immediate surroundings. It also promotes personal development by challenging us to step out of our comfort zones, adapt to new situations, and gain resilience in unfamiliar environments. Ultimately, this quote underscores the importance of exploration and broadening one's perspective through travel.

"My aim is to put New Zealand on the map – to show the world we are capable of these things."

Edmund Hillary's quote signifies his ambition to elevate New Zealand's global standing by demonstrating the country's capacity for remarkable feats, particularly in the realm of mountaineering. His goal was not only personal achievement but also to inspire pride and recognition for New Zealand on the world stage.

My mother was a schoolteacher and very keen that I go to a city school, so although it was fairly impoverished times, I traveled every day to the Auckland Grammar School.

- Edmund Hillary

City, Very, Grammar School, Schoolteacher

I think the really good mountaineer is the man with the technical ability of the professional and with the enthusiasm and freshness of approach of the amateur.

- Edmund Hillary

Think, I Think, Technical, Amateur

There is something about building up a comradeship - that I still believe is the greatest of all feats - and sharing in the dangers with your company of peers. It's the intense effort, the giving of everything you've got. It's really a very pleasant sensation.

- Edmund Hillary

Very, About, Dangers, Peers

I'm sure the feeling of fear, as long as you can take advantage of it and not be rendered useless by it, can make you extend yourself beyond what you would regard as your capacity. If you're afraid, the blood seems to flow freely through the veins, and you really do feel a sense of stimulation.

- Edmund Hillary

Through, Feel, Your, Extend

I think I mainly climb mountains because I get a great deal of enjoyment out of it. I never attempt to analyze these things too thoroughly, but I think that all mountaineers do get a great deal of satisfaction out of overcoming some challenge which they think is very difficult for them, or which perhaps may be a little dangerous.

- Edmund Hillary

Mountains, Some, Very, Analyze

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Give, Realised, Astonishment, Tumultuous

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Been, May, Became, Mount

No one remembers who climbed Mount Everest the second time.

- Edmund Hillary

Time, Remembers, Climbed, Mount

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Challenges, Other, About, Climbed

I was scared many times on Everest, but this is all part of the challenge. When I fell down a crevasse, it was pretty scary.

- Edmund Hillary

Pretty, Part, Many, Everest

Many people have been getting too casual about climbing Everest. I forecast a disaster many times.

- Edmund Hillary

Been, Forecast, About, Everest

On the summit of Everest, I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there.

- Edmund Hillary

Feeling, Summit, Had, Everest

When I was 50 years old, I actually decided to draw up a list of half a dozen things that I really hadn't done very well, and I was going to make efforts to improve. One of them was skiing, and I really did become a very much better skier.

- Edmund Hillary

Very, Dozen, Half, Skier

I think that a good mountaineer is usually a sensible mountaineer.

- Edmund Hillary

Good, Think, I Think, Sensible

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Strong, Myself, Back, Cracking

When I was climbing, I built up a close relationship with the Sherpa people.

- Edmund Hillary

Relationship, Up, Built, Close Relationship

My most important projects have been the building and maintaining of schools and medical clinics for my dear friends in the Himalaya and helping restore their beautiful monasteries, too.

- Edmund Hillary

Medical, Been, Projects, Maintaining

Tourism is a very big economic benefit to the Sherpa people, and also, they have very strong ties to their own social attitudes and their own religion, so fortunately, they're not too influenced by many of our Western attitudes.

- Edmund Hillary

Strong, Big, Very, Economic

If you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go.

- Edmund Hillary

Understand, Goes, Which, Struggle

I have enjoyed great satisfaction from my climb of Everest and my trips to the poles. But there's no doubt that my most worthwhile things have been the building of schools and medical clinics.

- Edmund Hillary

Medical, Been, Clinics, Trips

When you go to the mountains, you see them and you admire them. In a sense, they give you a challenge, and you try to express that challenge by climbing them.

- Edmund Hillary

Mountains, Give, Go, Climbing

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Own, Very, Dangers, Climbing

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Got, Mountaineering, Climbing

When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.

- Edmund Hillary

Miserable, Pretty, High, Climbing

Life's a bit like mountaineering - never look down.

- Edmund Hillary

Never, Like, Bit, Mountaineering

The Sherpas play a very important role in most mountaineering expeditions, and in fact many of them lead along the ridges and up to the summit.

- Edmund Hillary

Play, Role, Very, Mountaineering

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Summit, Couple, Particularly, Mountaineering

I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe.

- Edmund Hillary

Always, Again, Part, Climbing

I enjoyed climbing with other people, good friends, but I did quite a lot of solo climbing, too.

- Edmund Hillary

People, Other, Solo, Climbing

My relationship with the mountains actually started when I was 16. Every year, a group used to be taken from Auckland Grammar down to the Tangariro National Park for a skiing holiday.

- Edmund Hillary

Mountains, Year, Skiing, Group

Good planning is important. I've also regarded a sense of humor as one of the most important things on a big expedition. When you're in a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you're depressed about the chances of success, someone who can make you laugh eases the tension.

- Edmund Hillary

Humor, Sense Of Humor, Big, Laugh

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Here, I Think, Very, Everest

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Mountains, Hospitals, Been, I Believe

Becoming a 'Sir' is slightly uncomfortable at first, although it is a considerable honor. It is amazing how quickly you become accustomed to it.

- Edmund Hillary

Honor, Becoming, Slightly, Accustomed

Despite all I have seen and experienced, I still get the same simple thrill out of glimpsing a tiny patch of snow in a high mountain gully and feel the same urge to climb towards it.

- Edmund Hillary

Simple, Feel, Still, Patch

I think Himalayan climbers tend to mature fairly late. I think most of the successful Himalayan climbers have ranged from 28 to just over 40, really.

- Edmund Hillary

Think, Over, I Think, Climber

I have never regarded myself as a hero, but Tenzing undoubtedly was.

- Edmund Hillary

Myself, Never, Regarded, Undoubtedly

Take advantage of the years of pioneering efforts. You might find this boring, as the young want to rush head on, as it were.

- Edmund Hillary

Young, Might, Advantage, Pioneering

Adventuring can be for the ordinary person with ordinary qualities, such as I regard myself.

- Edmund Hillary

Myself, Person, Regard, Ordinary Person

People do not decide to become extraordinary. They decide to accomplish extraordinary things.

- Edmund Hillary

Accomplish, Extraordinary, Extraordinary Things

Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.

- Edmund Hillary

Science, Mountains, Reasons, Climbs

I was definitely very much a country boy.

- Edmund Hillary

Country, Very, Definitely, Country Boy

I don't spend a lot of time thinking about dying, but I like to think that I've - if it did occur - that I would die peacefully and not make too much of a fuss about it.

- Edmund Hillary

Die, Think, Like, Peacefully

I am inclined to think that the realm of mythology is where the Yeti rightly belongs.

- Edmund Hillary

I Am, Think, Rightly, Mythology

I was extremely lucky that I had two great wives. It sounds a bit funny to say that, but it's absolutely true.

- Edmund Hillary

Lucky, Say, Had, Wives

I am a lucky man. I have had a dream and it has come true, and that is not a thing that happens often to men.

- Edmund Hillary

Lucky, Come, Had, Happens

The truth is, I'm just a rough old New Zealander who has enjoyed many challenges in his life.

- Edmund Hillary

Challenges, New, Rough, Enjoyed

I don't know if I particularly want to be remembered for anything. I personally do not think I'm a great gift to the world. I've been very fortunate.

- Edmund Hillary

Gift, Think, Very, Great Gift

Once I've decided to do something, I do usually try to carry it through to fruition.

- Edmund Hillary

Through, Once, Decided, Fruition

Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.

- Edmund Hillary

Mountain, Important, Getting, Human Life

I hate being called an 'icon.' I just don't like it. That's all there is to it.

- Edmund Hillary

Hate, Like, Being, Icon

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.

- Edmund Hillary

Remember When, Instance, Local

Even when you're 50, you can make the effort to improve your standards.

- Edmund Hillary

Improve, Standards, Even, Effort

There is precious little in civilization to appeal to a Yeti.

- Edmund Hillary

Precious, Civilization, Appeal

It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.

- Edmund Hillary

Conquer, Ourselves, Mountain

I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it.

- Edmund Hillary

Work Hard, Think, I Think, Motivation

It's not a real adventure when you have to pay for it.

- Edmund Hillary

Adventure, Real, You, Pay

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