How do you describe the mountains? What about the feelings you experience when surrounded by mountains? Or, even more challenging yet, how you feel after climbing to the top of a mountain?
The truth is, it can be hard to put such grand feelings and emotions into words – that’s why mountain quotes are so handy!
For me personally, mountains make me feel all the feelings and have all the thoughts. There is something about standing on a mountain that sparks multiple internal conversations. Gratitude, a sense of accomplishment, joy, and sometimes even laughter is common for me.
Even as someone who loves to write quotes myself, referring to quotes written by other people can help me summarize these feelings or clarify any thoughts. Quotes about the mountains do just that!
I’ve read multiple thousands of mountain quotes over the years (yes, there really are that many), and based on my favorites I’ve created this blog. It includes mountain quotes that I’ve written myself that you won’t find anywhere else, as well as some super popular mountain quotes too! For those looking for motivation or inspiration, I got you covered. Laughter? I have those too.
Literally, this is the most comprehensive and diverse list of mountain quotes you’ll ever read. I hope you find a few quotes that speak to you personally on this list, and if they do, jot them down and bring them with you to the mountains!
Original Mountain Quotes
I love quotes and I love the mountains, so it should come as no surprise that I’ve actually written a few mountain quotes myself. The next few quotes are all original mountain quotes written by me! Some of them are meant to make you smile, and some are meant to make you think. Because I am the author, I’ve included my explanation of a few of the quotes that I think are a little tricky to understand or have an interesting interpretation. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them!
“There’s no mountain you can’t climb. You just need the dedication and training to do so.” – Inspire with Quotes
“Hiking in the mountains is therapeutic because it Alps clear your head.” – Inspire with Quotes
“Once I reach a mountain peak I always take a moment to look down at my feet. These two little feet carried me all the way up here! Thanks, feet.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: I wrote this quote because I honestly think that sometimes people don’t have enough gratitude for their bodies and where they take us. I’m thankful for my feet, my legs, my lungs, and my body for the ability to hike up a mountain.
“There isn’t a mountain peak I’ve been to that I didn’t fall in love with.” – Inspire with Quotes
“If you’re afraid of heights then you have no choice but to climb to the top of the mountain.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: This mountain quote is one I wrote as a reminder to always push yourself to do the things that scare you the most, even if that means climbing a mountain! Read more quotes about climbing mountains in my blog.
“Prove yourself wrong. Climb that damn mountain.” – Inspire with Quotes
“Challenge yourself: leave your phone at home when you go hiking in the mountains.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: It is so crazy to me that in today’s world, not having your cellphone around can be more of a challenge than the act of climbing a mountain. It might seem like a silly mountain quote at first, but I think it brings to attention an issue that should probably be addressed.
“When you start to feel down, it might just be time to change your altitude.” – Inspire with Quotes
“When climbing to a mountain peak, it isn’t just the mountain that challenges me, it is myself.” – Inspire with Quotes
“When people start to annoy you, forget them. Just head to the mountains.” – Inspire with Quotes
“You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy new hiking gear.” – Inspire with Quotes
“There is no view more breathtaking than the one you climb to.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: This one has a simple meaning – the things you work the hardest for in life are the most rewarding.
“And just when you think chocolate couldn’t taste any better…you have a bite when hiking.” – Inspire with Quotes
“Did you even hike the mountain if you didn’t post a photo on social media immediately after?!” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: This is meant to be one of those funny mountain quotes, it pokes fun at ourselves or others who just have to post photos on social media.
” ‘I don’t want to go to the mountains today,’ said no one ever.” – Inspire with Quotes
“The biggest reality check you’ll get amongst mountains is realizing how small you are.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: Being near or on top of towering mountains has a way of making a person feel insignificant or small. As a reality check, this is important because it keeps our egos at bay and reminds us that we are just one very minuscule piece of this huge world.
“And just when my feet start to pulse, my back aches, my legs are tired, I can’t catch my breath, and I’m dead tired – I feel the most alive. That’s the irony of hiking in the mountains.” – Inspire with Quotes
“It was clear that she was a Canadian-born Rocky Mountain girl.” – Inspire with Quotes
“My wild nature began in the Rocky Mountains.” – Inspire with Quotes
Quote Explanation: Those last two quotes are personal to me because I grew up in the Canadian Rockies. I think this lifestyle has definitely helped shape my personality and values today. There are lots of other great Rocky Mountain quotes you should check out too!
Popular Mountain Quotes
Not all quotes have to be unique. In fact, many of my favorite mountain quotes are super popular ones that you may have even heard before. These quotes are typically more relatable, shorter, witty, and convey a powerful message. They are totally worth reading and I think you’ll really love them!
Oh, and I’ve also included my interpretation of a few of my favorites. Agree with my interpretation or don’t, either way, I find these interpretations help get the wheels turning and discover meanings you maybe didn’t understand at first.
“Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.” – Sir Martin Convay
“Kid, you’ll move mountains.”― Dr. Seuss
“Life’s a bit like mountaineering – never look down.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain.“
Quote Interpretation: This is one of my favorite mountain captions, it is witty and a play on words all while reminding us to keep pushing ourselves. Always strive for something bigger and better!
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” – Ed Viesturs
“The mountains are calling and I must go“.– John Muir
“Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you are climbing it.” – Andy Rooney
“You never climb a mountain on accident – it has to be intentional.”– Mark Udall
Quote Interpretation: I love, love, LOVE this quote! Nobody accidentally climbs a huge mountain, it takes perseverance and effort. To me, this relates to life. Nothing great just happens, you have to work hard to make it happen. Quotes about climbing mountains such as this one inspire me, even though it is about a mountain at first glance, it really means so much more and is a reminder I can carry with me daily.
“The mountains were there and so was I.” Maurice Herzog
“Happiness is not at the top of the mountains but in how to climb it.”– Confucius
“It’s not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Quote Interpretation: If you’ve ever climbed a mountain you’ll know it is both physically and mentally challenging, and this Sir Edmund Hillary quote reminds us that by reaching the top we conquer the biggest challenge – which is actually the factors within ourselves. That’s why climbing a mountain brings such a great feeling of accomplishment!
“Hike more. Worry Less.”
“You move a mountain one stone at a time.”– Catherine Pulsifer
“Hike your own hike.”
Quote Interpretation: When it comes to short mountain quotes, this one is great. With only 4 words it tells us to “stay in our lane” and focus on your own journey – great advice if you ask me!
“Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Let’s wander where the WiFi is weak.”
“The mountain affords perspective.”― Thomas Lloyd Qualls
“Say yes, and you’ll figure it out afterwards.” – Tina Fey
“I guess the most beautiful sound in the Canadian Rockies is just silence.” – Eddie Hunter
“There is no wifi in the mountains, but I promise you will find a better connection.”
“Mountains terrify me – they just sit about; they are so proud.” – Sylvia Plath
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Mary Davis
Quote Interpretation: Nature is so incredible. From a small plant to the mountains to the earth beneath your feet, nature is a miracle all around you!
“I’m always looking for a new challenge. There are a lot of mountains to climb out there. When I run out of mountains, I’ll build a new one.”– Sylvester Stallone
“I am never lost in the mountains, its where I find myself.”
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
“The mountains were so wild and so stark and so very beautiful that I wanted to cry.”- Jane Wilson-Howarth
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” – Aristotle
Why I love this quote: It is so true! In fact, butterfly quotes remind us of this too. Nature is incredible!
Inspirational Mountain Quotes
So many mountain quotes are inspirational. To me, the reason is that climbing a mountain or conquering it brings about a sense of accomplishment and achievement. These next quotes will push you to climb that mountain, or overcome that life hurdle. In many of these quotes, you’ll notice that mountains are used as a metaphor for a challenge you might face in life.
If you’re in need of a little inspiration, these next mountain quotes are perfect for you!
“The best view comes after the hardest climb.”
“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac
Quote Interpretation: Just YES! No hidden meaning in this quote, it’s just a little push to remind you to do something different and extraordinary. Spend time doing the things that bring you joy.
“Some day I’m going to climb Everest.”– Sir Edmund Hillary
“I am never lost in the mountains, it’s where I find myself.”
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss
“No matter how tall the mountain is; it cannot block the sun.”– Chinese Proverb
Quote Interpretation: I had to stop and think about this short mountain quote for a minute. I think it has multiple meanings, but to me, it’s reminding us that no matter how big the challenge or diversity (or high the mountain is) there is a positive light that will shine through at some point.
“The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks.”– Tennessee Williams
“You can’t climb up a mountain with downhill thoughts.”
“When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.”
Quote Interpretation: This mountain view quote is a reminder to keep your eye on the prize. At the end of any challenge (whether that be climbing a mountain or a general struggle in life), it will all be worth it!
“Be like a mountain; do not let anything disturb your inner peace.” – Debasish Mridha
“Over every mountain, there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” — Theodore Roethke
“It’s always further than it looks. It’s always taller than it looks. And it’s always harder than it looks.”
“Don’t pay attention to the size of the mountain in front of you. Rather, think about what the view from the summit is going to be like.”― Craig D. Lounsbrough
Quote Interpretation: Like many other mountain climbing quotes, this quote is about conquering a mountain. The effort of climbing any mountain becomes worth it when you get to the top – this is also a metaphor for life.
“I think, every time I am on the mountain, I am just so thankful to be there.”— Chloe Kim
“Clouds come and go, the mountain remains.”― Meeta Ahluwalia
“The deepest sea has a bottom, the highest mountain has a summit.”— Chinese Proverb
“There’s a world out there, and you’ve got to look at both sides of the mountain in your lifetime.” – Bill Janklow
“Sometimes in life, we don’t get to choose the mountain; it chooses us. “ – Neal McCoy
Quote Interpretation: To me, this quote isn’t actually about mountains, but rather it uses the mountain as a metaphor for life. The mountain could be compared to a challenge or a life path. With that said, I’m sure this quote could be taken literally as well depending on who’s reading it.
“That girl, she’s going to move mountains.”
“You keep putting one foot in front of the other, and then one day you look back and you’ve climbed a mountain.”- Tom Hiddleston
“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain he is inspired by it.” – William Artur Ward
“Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit.”
“I will come again and conquer you because as a mountain you can’t grow, but as a human, I can.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Quote interpretation: This is one of my favorite short mountain quotes by Sir Edmund Hillary. To me, this quote reminds us that even if we fail, we can grow and become successful in the future.
“Always be thankful for the little things… even the smallest mountains can hide the most breathtaking views!” – Nyki Mack
“Every great achievement is but a small peak in the mountain range of contributions.”– Dale T. Mortensen
Quote Interpretation: I think that this quote is reminding us that there are many factors that contribute to success. Alternatively, it could be saying that your personal achievement is just one amongst many others out there. Either way you look at it, it’s a great quote!
“We don’t stop hiking because we grow old. We grow old because we stop hiking.” – Finis Mitchell
“You need special shoes for hiking—and a bit of a special soul as well.” – Terri Guillemets
There’s no glory in climbing a mountain if all you want to do is to get to the top. It’s experiencing the climb itself – in all its moments of revelation, heartbreak, and fatigue – that has to be the goal.” – Karyn Kusama
“May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits.” – Harley King
Funny and Witty Mountain Quotes
Okay, it’s time to lighten things up with a few funny mountain quotes. These next few quotes will likely make you giggle, or at the very least, smile. They are light-hearted and witty. Expect jokes, puns, and sarcasm.
If you’re looking for some mountain captions for Instagram, these next ones could be perfect. Something light-hearted on social media is always a great idea.
“That’s the difference between backpackers and holidaymakers. The former can’t help but invite hassle whilst the latter pay to escape it.” – Harry Whitewolf
“Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Mountains are the answer. Who cares what the question is?”
“I can’t understand why men make all this fuss about Everest — it’s only a mountain.” – Junko Tabei
“Fresh air, don’t care.”
“Mountains make me believe that nothing can be bigger than nature, not even human ego.”― Jay Kumar Singh
“It’s all bullshit on Everest these days.”– Sir Edmund Hillary
Quote Interpretation: This quote is so blunt that it’s actually funny. Sir Edmund Hillary was the first man to summit Mount Everest, and he has often critiqued how and why people climb it these days. A Lot has changed since 1953 when he first climbed it.
“There ain’t a single good reason to climb a mountain. Well, except to have fun.” -Iron Mike Smith
“The closer you are to mountains, the further you are from idiots.”
“Anywhere is ‘within walking distance.’ ”
“Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence” – Nemann Buhl
“Time in the mountains is always snow much fun.”
“All I need is a mountain breeze and tall trees.”
“When preparing to climb a mountain – pack a light heart.” – Dan May
“Let’s not mince words: Everest doesn’t attract a whole lot of well-balanced folks. The self-selection process tends to weed out the cautious and the sensible in favor of those who are single-minded and incredibly driven. Which is a big reason the mountain is so dangerous.” – Jon Krakauer
Quote Interpretation: The type of people who like to climb mountains are a little crazy!
“Walking: the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.” – Carrie Latet
“You need mountains, long staircases don’t make good hikers.” – Amit Kalantri
“In the mountains, you are sometimes invited, sometimes tolerated, and sometimes told to go home.”— Fred Beckey
Quote Interpretation: To me, this quote is about the conditions in the mountains. Sometimes it is welcoming, and sometimes it is too difficult and intolerable that you must turn back and go home.
“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” – Diane Spicer
“Think outside. No box required.”
“What do you call an amazing day up a mountain? A peak experience.”
“The way up to the top of the mountain is always longer than you think. Don’t fool yourself, the moment will arrive when what seemed so near is still very far.” – Paulo Coelho
“Climbing my way to bigger and better things.“
“Sometimes you just need to change your altitude“
Note: This quote says “altitude” (as in higher elevation), not “attitude” as I first read myself. The play on words here is what makes this quote “punny” (yes, I just wrote that – I love a good pun, I can’t help myself!)
“I like being near the top of a mountain. One can’t get lost here.” Wislawa Szymborska
“When life gives you mountains, put on your boots and hike.”
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing.” – Sir Rannulph Fiennes
“Why are mountains always sleepy? Because they n-Everest.”
Interesting & Thought-Provoking Mountain Quotes
These next mountain quotes are the ones that’ll make you pause after each quote to decide what the quote is really about. These quotes are great conversation starters either with yourself or friends. They might make you see something from a new perspective, or if I’m being totally honest, they might even confuse you! I challenge you to embrace the confusion and try to work out what each one of these quotes mean to you.
“It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.” — Robert W. Service
“I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.” – Eric Roth
“Your faith can move mountains and your doubt can create them.” — Swami Vivekananda
Quote Interpretation: Believing in yourself or anything else can make things possible. Doubt will do the opposite.
“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.”– Sir Edmund Hillary
“To aim for the highest point is not the only way to climb a mountain.” – Nan Shepherd
“Mountains teach that not everything in this world can be rationally explained.”– Aleksander Lwow
“I like the mountains because they make me feel small… They help me sort out what’s important in life.”― Mark Obmascik
Quote Interpretation: It’s true, spending a day in the mountain puts your own life into perspective.
“You are not in the mountains. The mountains are in you.” -John Muir
“Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” ― David McCullough Jr.
“No matter how sophisticated you may be; a large granite mountain cannot be denied – it speaks in silence to the very core of your being.”— Ansel Adams
“The mountains have rules. They are harsh rules, but they are there, and if you keep to them you are safe. A mountain is not like men. A mountain is sincere. The weapons to conquer it exist inside you, inside your soul.” – Walter Bonatti
“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again. So why bother in the first place? Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above. One climbs, one sees. One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.”– Rene Daumal
“Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.” – William Shakespeare
“The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”– Robert M. Pirsig
“The top of one mountain is always the bottom of another.”— Marianne Williamson
Quote Interpretation: This mountain view quote doesn’t make sense if you take it literally. I mean the top of the mountain should be the top, right? So to me, it is referring to conquering a difficult time or reaching a goal. Once you’ve achieved a goal, you set another more difficult one which would be the “bottom of the other mountain“ as described in the quote.
Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.” – Jeffrey Rasley
“Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more that what we could learn from books.” – John Lubbock
“When a man climbs to some mountain height, he sees the relative size and importance of things in a way which he never could from the plains below.“ -J. Sidlow Baxter
“Man can climb to the highest summits, but he cannot dwell there long.” — George Bernard Shaw
“What are men to rocks and mountains?” ― Jane Austen
“You never climb the same mountain twice, not even in memory. Memory rebuilds the mountain, changes the weather, retells the jokes, remakes all the moves.” – Lito Tejada-Flores
Quote Interpretation: This quote isn’t really about mountains, but rather memories. Our memory is so powerful it changes our reality.
“Mountains, according to the angle of view, the season, the time of day, the beholder’s frame of mind, or any one thing, can effectively change their appearance. Thus, it is essential to recognize that we can never know more than one side, one small aspect of a mountain.”— Haruki Murakami
“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.” Yvon Chouinard
“If everyone in the world took care of each other the way folks do out on the trail, and if everyone approached each day with as much hope and optimism as hikers do, the world would be a better place.” Jon Tullis
“I love to sit on a mountain top and gaze. I don’t think of anything but the people I care about and the view.” – Julian Lennon
“Be like a mountain, aim to touch the sky but stay rooted to the ground.”
Quote Interpretation: This quote speaks to me in a couple of ways. First of all, it tells me to set high goals and try to achieve them. However, it also tells me to “stay rooted” which I think is saying to remember where I came from, and also to keep my ego in check.
“The cliche is that life is a mountain. You go up, reach the top and then go down. To me, life is going up until you are burned by flames. Life is an accomplishment, and each moment has a meaning and you must use it. Life is given to you like a flat piece of land and everything has to be done. I hope that when I am finished, my piece of land will be a beautiful garden, so there is a lot of work.”— Jeanne Moreau
“The higher you climb on the mountain, the harder the wind blows.” Sam Cummings
“So this was what a mountain was like, the same as a person: the more you know, the less you fear.”— Wu Ming-Yi
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“The climb speaks to our character, but the view, I think, to our souls.” – Lori Lansens
“Although I deeply love oceans, deserts, and other wild landscapes, it is only mountains that beckon me with that sort of painful magnetic pull to walk deeper and deeper into their beauty.”– Victoria Erikson
“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” – John Muir
Quote Interpretation: This quote helps us understand human behavior and our need to be in wilderness and the mountains.
“Every man should pull a boat over a mountain once in his life.” – Werner Herzog
“What would be ugly in a garden constitutes beauty in a mountain.” – Victor Hugo
“To those who have struggled with them, the mountains reveal beauties that they will not disclose to those who make no effort. That is the reward the mountains give to effort. And it is because they have so much to give and give it so lavishly to those who will wrestle with them that men love the mountains and go back to them again and again. The mountains reserve their choice gifts for those who stand upon their summits.”- Sir Francis Younghusband
“I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than trees.” – Henry David Thoreau
“I am losing precious days. I am degenerating into a machine for making money. I am learning nothing in this trivial world of men. I must break away and get out into the mountains to learn the news” – John Muir
“If you are faced with a mountain, you have several options. You can climb it and cross to the other side. You can go around it. You can dig under it. You can fly over it. You can blow it up. You can ignore it and pretend it’s not there. You can turn around and go back the way you came. Or you can stay on the mountain and make it your home.” – Vera Nazarian
“Never measure the height of a mountain until you reach the top. Then you will see how low it was.” – Dag Hammerskjold
“Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street.” William Blake
“Those who travel to mountain-tops are half in love with themselves and half in love with oblivion.”– Robert MacFarlane
“Mountains know secrets we need to learn. That it might take time, it might be hard, but if you just hold on long enough, you will find the strength to rise up.” — Tyler Knott
Quote Interpretation: This mountain quote is about how mountains are formed. If we, as people, form like mountains we would understand the secret of the mountains’ strength.
“The mountains were his masters. They rimmed in life. They were the cup of reality, beyond growth, beyond struggle and death. They were his absolute unity in the midst of eternal change.” ― Thomas Wolfe
“I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.”– Sebastian Thrun
“Any road followed precisely to its end leads precisely nowhere. Climb the mountain just a little bit to test it’s a mountain. From the top of the mountain, you cannot see the mountain.” – Frank Herbert
“A lone peak of high point is a natural focal point in the landscape, something by which both travelers and local orient themselves. In the continuum of landscape, mountains are discontinuity — culminating in high points, natural barriers, unearthly earth. ― Rebecca Solnit
“At bottom, mountains, like all wildernesses, challenge our complacent conviction – so easy to lapse into – that the world has been made for humans by humans. Most of us exist for most of the time in worlds which are humanly arranged, themed and controlled. One forgets that there are environments which do not respond to the flick of a switch or the twist of a dial, and which have their own rhythms and orders of existence. Mountains correct this amnesia. By speaking of greater forces than we can possibly invoke, and by confronting us with greater spans of time than we can possibly envisage, mountains refute our excessive trust in the man-made. They pose profound questions about our durability and the importance of our schemes. They induce, I suppose, a modesty in us.”— Robert MacFarlane
Adventurous Mountain Quotes
Climbing and hiking on a mountain is an adventure! These next quotes are about the adventure and challenge of conquering a mountain. You’ll also notice that a fair chunk of them are actually quotes by Sir Edmund Hillary – the first man to summit Mount Everest! As an avid mountaineer and big-time adventurer, it makes sense that many of the best mountain quotes about adventuring are by him.
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller
“Mountain hikes instilled in me a life-long urge to get to the top of any inviting summit or peak.”— Paul D. Boyer
“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.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Good climbing is about climbing with heart and with instinct, not ambition and pride.” — Bear Grylls
Quote Interpretation: To be a good climber you must not climb with your ego. You must climb because you love it and learn to trust your instincts. This will make you a better climber and keep you safe.
“Stop staring at mountains. Climb them instead, yes, it’s a harder process but it will lead you to a better view.”
“There are two kinds of climbers, those who climb because their heart sings when they’re in the mountains, and all the rest.”— Alex Lowe
“Colorado is an oasis, an otherworldly mountain place.” -Brandi Carlile
‘’The most dangerous thing you can do in life is play it safe.’’ – Casey Neistat
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.”– Friedrich Neitszche
“No one remembers who climbed Mount Everest the second time.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Why is it that I can’t be content to live a normal life? Why do I spiral into depression when I am away from the wilderness for too long?” ― Heather Anderson
“Sometimes you just need an adventure to cleanse the bitter taste of life from your soul.”
“Climbing is as close as we can come to flying.” – Margaret Young
“If at some point you don’t ask yourself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ then you’re not doing it right.” — Roland Gau
“The Rocky Mountains realize – nay, exceed – the dream of my childhood. It is magnificent, and the air is life-giving.” – Isabella Bird
Quote Interpretation: Rocky Mountain quotes are some of my favorites since the Rockies is where I call “home.” This isn’t really a quote interpretation, but rather a reflection. This quote truly describes how wonderful the Rocky Mountains are and I love it!
“The mountains were so wild and so stark and so very beautiful that I wanted to cry.” – Jane Wilson-Howarth
“When you’re climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”
“The greatest joy in climbing is to be in charge of one’s own destiny.”— Chris Bonnington
“The truth is you cannot climb a mountain if you are afraid to leave the security of a safe shelter.“ – Pat Williams, David Wimbish
“As a professional climber, that’s the question you always get: Why, why, why? It’s an ineffable thing; you can’t describe it.” – Jimmy Chin
“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.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” – Edward Abbey
“I think that a good mountaineer is usually a sensible mountaineer.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“The more I see of deer, the more I admire them as mountaineers. They make their way into the heart of the roughest solitudes with smooth reserve of strength, through dense belts of brush and forest encumbered with fallen trees and boulder piles, across canons, roaring streams, and snow-fields, ever showing forth beauty and courage.” – John Muir
“Adventuring can be for the ordinary person with ordinary qualities, such as I regard myself.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“It’s never too late in life to have a genuine adventure.” Robert Kurson
“I don’t want to write about climbing or talk about it or photograph it or think about it; all I want to do is do it.”— Chuck Pratt
Quote Interpretation: The real love for climbing mountains is in the act of doing it. However, what makes this quote interesting is that this is not the truth for everyone. – especially in today’s world. Many people climb to take photos and then post on Instagram with a mountain caption. Honestly, I don’t see a problem with this if the intent is to share your joy with others!
“On the summit of Everest, I had a feeling of great satisfaction to be first there.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.”— Sue Fitzmaurice
“Go where you feel most alive.”
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” – John Burroughs
“If you have seen a mountain that invites you to its summit, know that it is a beautiful mountain and its invitation is already that beauty itself!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan
“Adventure isn’t hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life.” — John Amatt
“There aren’t four seasons in Rocky Mountains, but three: summer, winter, and mud.”― C.J. Box
“When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.”— Paulo Coelho
“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.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir
Quote Interpretation: That spending some time in the mountains and in nature is refreshing. It helps clear your head.
“Life sucks a lot less when you add mountain air, a campfire, and some peace and quiet.”— Brooke Hampton
“Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature’s darlings.” – John Muir
“I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has become rather horrifying. The people just want to get to the top. They don’t give a damn for anybody else who may be in distress and it doesn’t impress me at all that they leave someone lying under a rock to die.”– Sir Edmund Hillary
“Any coward can sit at home and criticize a pilot for flying into a mountain in a fog. But I would rather by far die on a mountainside than in bed.” — Charles Lindbergh
Find more quotes…
Words are my thing – that’s why I created this blog. It’s all collections of unique and popular quotes about all of the great things in life. Have a browse around, or for more, check out all of my mountain quotes blogs. Some you might really like include 101 witty mountain captions for Instagram, funny mountain quotes, and 75 short mountain quotes – enjoy!