Not all quotes have to be long and complicated. Some of the best quotes are short – and that goes for mountain quotes too!
In this blog, I’ve included all my very favorite short mountain quotes and captions. These quotes all pack a punch using as few words as possible. To me, a quote is even more special when the meaning behind it is long, however that meaning is translated in very few words. Short quotes are often the most impactful.
In this blog, you’ll find short quotes about climbing mountains, some witty and funny mountain quotes, and even a few that I wrote myself! To add a little bit of perspective and make things more interesting, I’ve included some of my interpretations of my favorite short mountain quotes below. My hope is that these interpretations help get the wheels turning and help you to discover different meanings to each quote.
SUPER Short Mountain Quotes (8 or fewer words)
These first 12 quotes are what I consider “super short”, as in they are only a couple of words. Don’t underestimate these quotes though, they are still extremely meaningful. And if I’m being honest, some of these are my very top choices.
“Take me to the mountains.”
“The mountains are calling and I must go“.– John Muir
“Fresh air, don’t care.”
“That girl, she’s going to move mountains.”
“Kid, you’ll move mountains.”― Dr. Seuss
Quote Interpretation: Both of the above short mountain quotes mention “moving mountains.” The concept of moving a mountain is impossible, so by telling somebody that they’re going to achieve so, you’re saying they are going to accomplish so much!
“Hike more. Worry Less.”
“Let’s wander where the WiFi is weak.”
“It’s not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Quote Interpretation: Climbing a mountain is challenging, and when you make it to the top you prove your strength. This quote could also be referring to the mental challenges we face when climbing mountains. See what I mean – so much meaning in such a short little quote!
“Life should have more mountains and less stress.”
“Each fresh peak ascended teaches something.” Sir Martin Convay
“The mountain affords perspective.”― Thomas Lloyd Qualls
“The mountains were there and so was I.” Maurice Herzog
Short Quotes About the Mountains
These next short mountain quotes are a little longer than the last ones. With that said, when compared with most quotes about mountains, they are definitely what I’d consider “short.” You’ll notice that some of these quotes are popular phrases you may have even heard before, and some are rather unknown. Nonetheless, every quote is great and carries a different meaning.
Chasing angels or fleeing demons, go to the mountains.” – Jeffrey Rasley
“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. To me, this quote would be the perfect mountain caption to use on Instagram or any social media.
“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.” Yvon Chouinard
“When preparing to climb a mountain – pack a light heart.” – Dan May
“The higher you climb on the mountain, the harder the wind blows.” Sam Cummings
“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.
“In the mountains, you are sometimes invited, sometimes tolerated, and sometimes told to go home.”— Fred Beckey
“Be like a mountain, aim to touch the sky but stay rooted to the ground.”
“I think, every time I am on the mountain, I am just so thankful to be there.”— Chloe Kim
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” Beverly Sills
Quote Interpretation: Anything worth doing is worth the effort to get there.
“Climb mountains, not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.”– David McCullough Jr.
“Mountains terrify me – they just sit about; they are so proud.” – Sylvia Plath
“Life is better when you’re surrounded by your best friends in the mountains.”
“Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” – Ed Viesturs
“The top of one mountain is always the bottom of another.”— Marianne Williamson
Quote Interpretation: This short mountain 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.
“Be like a mountain; do not let anything disturb your inner peace.” – Debasish Mridha
“There is no wifi in the mountains, but I promise you will find a better connection.”
“Clouds come and go, the mountain remains.”― Meeta Ahluwalia
“Nothing lives long, only the earth and mountains.” – Dee Brown
“Climbing is as close as we can come to flying.” – Margaret Young
“The closer you are to mountains, the further you are from idiots.”
“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!)
“Over every mountain, there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley.” — Theodore Roethke
“I like being near the top of a mountain. One can’t get lost here.” Wislawa Szymborska
“It’s always further than it looks. It’s always taller than it looks. And it’s always harder than it looks.”
“You move a mountain one stone at a time.”– Catherine Pulsifer
Quote Interpretation: This is one of my all-time favorite short mountain quotes. It reminds me that all good things take time, and by achieving small steps you will eventually achieve the bigger picture.
“All I need is a mountain breeze and tall trees.”
“Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.” – William Shakespeare
More like this: Want more quotes about the Rocky Mountains – I have a blog on that too! Check it out!
“Great things are done when men and mountains meet; This is not done by jostling in the street.” William Blake
“The mountains were so wild and so stark and so very beautiful that I wanted to cry.” – Jane Wilson-Howarth
“The climb speaks to our character, but the view, I think, to our souls.” – Lori Lansens
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” Mary Davis
Why I love this Quote: Nature walks are the best. Nature is amazing and a miracle in itself. But once you walk in nature, you’ll also feel better which is somewhat of a miracle too.
“To aim for the highest point is not the only way to climb a mountain.”— Nan Shepherd
“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.” Aristotle
“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.
“Happiness is not at the top of the mountains but in how to climb it.”– Confucius
“You won, this time. But you are as big as you are ever going to get. And I’m still growing.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“I am never lost in the mountains, it’s where I find myself.”
”Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Did you know: You’ve probably noticed Sir Edmund Hillary’s name on this list a few times. The truth is there are plenty of popular mountain quotes by Sir Edmund Hillary because he was the first man to summit Mount Everest! In the mountaineering world, he is a celebrity.
“Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery” – John Ruskin
“The deepest sea has a bottom, the highest mountain has a summit.”— Chinese Proverb
“You must go on adventures to find out where you truly belong.”— Sue Fitzmaurice
“My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.” – Aldous Huxley
“If you think you’ve peaked, find a new mountain.“
“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.”— Paulo Coelho
“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.
“You need mountains, long staircases don’t make good hikers.” – Amit Kalantri
“Mountains teach that not everything in this world can be rationally explained.”– Aleksander Lwow
“You can’t climb up a mountain with downhill thoughts.”
“Mountains have a way of dealing with overconfidence” – Nemann Buhl
“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” — Barry Finlay
“The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.”– Robert M. Pirsig
“Mountains are the cathedrals where I practice my religion”. Anatoli Boukreev
“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!
“I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.” – Sebastian Thrun
“He who climbs upon the highest mountains laughs at all tragedies, real or imaginary.”– Friedrich Neitszche
“What would be ugly in a garden constitutes beauty in a mountain.” – Victor Hugo
“It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out; it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.” — Robert W. Service
“How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains!” -John Muir
“Life’s a bit like mountaineering – never look down.” – Sir Edmund Hillary
“Hiking and happiness go hand in hand or foot in boot.” Diane Spicer
“Life sucks a lot less when you add mountain air, a campfire, and some peace and quiet.”— Brooke Hampton
Find more quotes…
If you read this entire blog you’ve probably already discovered that mountain quotes are my thing! That’s right, I don’t just write about short mountain quotes. In fact, I have lots of blogs about mountain quotes – check them out! You might, in particular, like my blog about mountain view quotes.