I am not made for lonely expeditions. In the sixties, I climbed during the day so I wouldn't have to be alone. I finally learned to stay up for weeks in the high altitude all by my own without being afraid.
Interpretation
This quote expresses the importance of overcoming fear and embracing solitude for personal growth.
Reinhold Messner reflects on his journey as a climber, revealing that his initial fear of loneliness compelled him to seek companionship during his expeditions. Over time, he learned to embrace solitude and gain confidence, demonstrating that facing one’s fears can lead to profound personal strength and independence.
In practice
In a motivational speech about resilience, one might say, 'Like Reinhold Messner, we must learn to embrace solitude to conquer our fears.'
I became famous for the fact that I would break many, many limits. People said, 'He does all these crazy things.' But oddly it was a crazy thing only because scientists and climbers said, 'Everest and the 8,000-meter peaks without oxygen - impossible. Messner is becoming sick in his head.'
A 30-year-old rock climber is an old man. At 40, one is in the middle of his high-altitude power. At 50, a crosser of deserts is at his best age. But at 60, each of us is out of the game.
I think my cultural work is more important than the adventures I did. The adventures are not important for human beings. It's the conquering of the useless.
In mountaineering, there is not only the activity, but the philosophy behind it. Some say a moral, but I am against that because all morality is dangerous.
I was the first man to climb the world's 14 tallest peaks without supplementary oxygen, but I never asked how high I would go, just how I would do it.
In my state of spiritual abstraction, I no longer belong to myself and to my eyesight. I am nothing more than a single narrow gasping lung, floating over the mists and summits.
Possessed with a full confidence of the certain success which British valor must gain over such enemies, I have led you up these steep and dangerous rocks, only solicitous to show you the foe within your reach.
As the blowback against those who stand up for what is right thickens, I feel it is necessary to push forward with a relentless determination.
Everything that scares you is an opportunity to know your best self better.
If you don't want to be beaten, imprisoned, mutilated, killed ot tortured, then you shouldn't condone such behaviour towards anyone, be they human or not.
I can only say that there is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do to see a plan adopted for the abolition of slavery.
To struggle when hope is banished! To live when life's salt is gone! To dwell in a dream that's vanished- To endure, and go calmly on!
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