...by bringing myself over the edge and back, I discovered a passion to live my days fully, a conviction that will sustain me like sweet water on the periodically barren plain of our short lives.

Many climbers become writers because of the misconceptions about climbing.

Climbing is one of the few sports in which the arena (the cliffs, the mountains and their specific routes) acquire a notoriety that outpopulates, outshines and outlives the actual athletes.

You never cease to be unique.

Never tell a child that something it’s too hard

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you.

I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul.

Immensely grateful, touched, proud, astonished, abashed.

There's a combination of things [to survive the road trip]. Humor would be key. If everyone has relatively the same sense of humor, then that helps. And things in common, like food, eating.

I don't see the country audience looking forward to an out male singer. There are rumors about people but no one ever confirms because there is a tremendous amount of money at stake.

Pity a thing often avowed, seldom felt; hatred is a thing often felt, seldom avowed.

Culture of life is really important for a country to have if it's going to be a hospitable society.

I'm trying to be less bombastic. I love my books. I think I've done things nobody else has done.