--- title: "16 Mountain Quotes By Robert M. Pirsig" description: "16 Mountain quotes by Robert M. Pirsig. Plus more from Robert M. Pirsig and more Mountain sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/robert-m-pirsig-817_future_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_299937.png" --- > [To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-shallow-it-s-the-sides-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/569/robert-m-pirsig-817_future_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_299937.png) > [“It's the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/it-s-the-sides-of-the-mountain-which-sustain-life-not-the-top/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/robert-m-pirsig-817_life_it-s-the-sides-of-the-mountain-which-sus_558639.png) > [You go up the mountaintop and all you're gonna get is a great big heavy stone tablet handed to you with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/you-go-up-the-mountaintop-and-all-you-re-gonna-get-is-a-great-big/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df6/robert-m-pirsig-817_bigs_you-go-up-the-mountaintop-and-all-you-re_210102.png) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/825/robert-m-pirsig-817_find_the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of_140978.png) > [The only zen thoughts you can find on a mountain summit are those you brought yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-thoughts-you-can-find-on-a-mountain-summit-are-those-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f34/robert-m-pirsig-817_climbing_the-only-zen-thoughts-you-can-find-on-a_2952622.png) > [If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-you-become-restless-speed-up-if-you-become-winded-slow-down-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/robert-m-pirsig-817_climbs_if-you-become-restless-speed-up-if-you-b_2234126.png) > [“To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-shallow-it-s-the-sides-of-the-2/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/robert-m-pirsig-817_goals_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_1934580.png) > [The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits-of-a-digital/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/robert-m-pirsig-817_buddha_the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the_1628020.png) > [Like those in the valley behind us, most people stand in sight of the spiritual mountains all their lives and never enter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most-people-stand-in-sight-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/robert-m-pirsig-817_behinds_like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most_589645.png) > [“When you try to climb a mountain to prove how big you are, you almost never make it. And even if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/when-you-try-to-climb-a-mountain-to-prove-how-big-you-are-you-almost/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/248/robert-m-pirsig-817_climb_when-you-try-to-climb-a-mountain-to-prov_1013393.png) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/80b/robert-m-pirsig-817_buddha_the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as_83910.jpg) > [“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-little-effort-as-possible-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/robert-m-pirsig-817_art_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_456483.jpg) > [Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-little-effort-as-possible-and-3/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/160/robert-m-pirsig-817_climbs_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_3170117.png) > [I really am a recluse. I just enjoy watching the wind blow through the trees. In America someone who sits around and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watching-the-wind-blow-through-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/robert-m-pirsig-817_america_i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watch_2380002.jpg) > [“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-little-effort-as-possible-and-2/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/robert-m-pirsig-817_climb_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_1044461.jpg) > [“To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-the-untrained-eye-ego-climbing-and-selfless-climbing-may-appear/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e1/robert-m-pirsig-817_every-step_to-the-untrained-eye-ego-climbing-and-se_1106154.png) ## Other authors on Mountain ## More by Robert M. Pirsig > [“And from time to time you find your “county road” takes you onto a two-rutter and then a single rutter and then into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/and-from-time-to-time-you-find-your-county-road-takes-you-onto-a-two/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“I started to roll over for more sleep but heard a rooster crowing and then became aware we are on vacation and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-started-to-roll-over-for-more-sleep-but-heard-a-rooster-crowing-and/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even though quality cannot be defined, you know what quality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-though-quality-cannot-be-defined-you-know-what-quality-is/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [I suppose philosophy is historically not a woman's game, though that is changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-suppose-philosophy-is-historically-not-a-woman-s-game-though-that/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Up until my first book was published, I had all this potential, people would say, and I screwed up. After it, I could say:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/up-until-my-first-book-was-published-i-had-all-this-potential-people/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [There is a perennial classical question that asks which part of the motorcycle, which grain of sand in which pile, is the Buddha. Obviously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/there-is-a-perennial-classical-question-that-asks-which-part-of-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Of the value traps, the most widespread and pernicious is value rigidity. This is an inability to revalue what one sees because of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/of-the-value-traps-the-most-widespread-and-pernicious-is-value/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“Historically mystics have claimed that for a true understanding of reality metaphysics is too “scientific”. Metaphysics is not reality. Metaphysics is names about reality.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/historically-mystics-have-claimed-that-for-a-true-understanding-of/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [“What’s emerging from the pattern of my own life is the for belief that the crisis is being caused by the inadequacy of existing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/what-s-emerging-from-the-pattern-of-my-own-life-is-the-for-belief/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [To speak of certain government and establishment institutions as 'the system' is to speak correctly . . . They are sustained by structural relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-speak-of-certain-government-and-establishment-institutions-as-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [If a revolution destroys a systematic government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/if-a-revolution-destroys-a-systematic-government-but-the-systematic/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [The only Zen you can find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-only-zen-you-can-find-on-the-tops-of-mountains-is-the-zen-you/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Only social patterns can control biological patterns, and the instrument of conversation between society and biology is not words. The instrument of conversation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/only-social-patterns-can-control-biological-patterns-and-the/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Even in the presence of others he was completely alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/even-in-the-presence-of-others-he-was-completely-alone/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/robert-m-pirsig/#itemlist", "name": "16 Mountain Quotes By Robert M. Pirsig", "numberOfItems": 16, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountain that sustain life, not the top.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-shallow-it-s-the-sides-of-the-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/robert-m-pirsig-817_goals_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_1934580.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/robert-m-pirsig-817_goals_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_1934580.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96d/robert-m-pirsig-817_goals_to-live-only-for-some-future-goal-is-sha_1934580.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the…” — Robert M. 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Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits-of-a-digital/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/robert-m-pirsig-817_buddha_the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the_1628020.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/robert-m-pirsig-817_buddha_the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the_1628020.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b39/robert-m-pirsig-817_buddha_the-buddha-resides-as-comfortably-in-the_1628020.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Buddha resides as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission…” — Robert M. Pirsig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Like those in the valley behind us, most people stand in sight of the spiritual mountains all their lives and never enter them, being content to listen to others who have been there and thus avoid the hardships.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most-people-stand-in-sight-of-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/robert-m-pirsig-817_behinds_like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most_589645.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/robert-m-pirsig-817_behinds_like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most_589645.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c76/robert-m-pirsig-817_behinds_like-those-in-the-valley-behind-us-most_589645.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Like those in the valley behind us, most people stand in sight of the spiritual mountains all their lives…” — Robert M. Pirsig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When you try to climb a mountain to prove how big you are, you almost never make it. And even if you do it’s a hollow victory. In order to sustain the victory you have to prove yourself again and again in some other way, and again and again and again, driven forever to fill a false image, haunted by the fear that the image is not true and someone will find out. That’s never the way.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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Pirsig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of the mountain, or in the petals of a flower. To think otherwise is to demean the Buddha - which is to demean oneself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-little-effort-as-possible-and/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/robert-m-pirsig-817_art_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_456483.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/robert-m-pirsig-817_art_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_456483.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f2/robert-m-pirsig-817_art_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_456483.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own…” — Robert M. Pirsig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in an equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you're no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn't just a means to an end but a unique event in itself.To live only for some future goal is shallow. It's the sides of the mountains which sustain life, not the top.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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In America someone who sits around and does that is at the bottom of the ladder, but in Japan, say, someone who goes up into the mountains is accorded great respect. I guess I am somewhere in between. I enjoy reclusion: it clears my mind.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watching-the-wind-blow-through-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/robert-m-pirsig-817_america_i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watch_2380002.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/robert-m-pirsig-817_america_i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watch_2380002.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dfc/robert-m-pirsig-817_america_i-really-am-a-recluse-i-just-enjoy-watch_2380002.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I really am a recluse. I just enjoy watching the wind blow through the trees. 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Pirsig" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-little-effort-as-possible-and-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/robert-m-pirsig-817_climb_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_1044461.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/robert-m-pirsig-817_climb_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_1044461.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/robert-m-pirsig-817_climb_mountains-should-be-climbed-with-as-litt_1044461.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own…” — Robert M. Pirsig", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To the untrained eye ego-climbing and selfless climbing may appear identical. Both kinds of climbers place one foot in front of the other. Both breathe in and out at the same rate. Both stop when tired. Both go forward when rested. But what a difference! The ego-climber is like an instrument that’s out of adjustment. He puts his foot down an instant too soon or too late. He’s likely to miss a beautiful passage of sunlight through the trees. He goes on when the sloppiness of his step shows he’s tired. He rests at odd times. He looks up the trail trying to see what’s ahead even when he knows what’s ahead because he just looked a second before. He goes too fast or too slow for the conditions and when he talks his talk is forever about somewhere else, something else. He’s here but he’s not here. He rejects the here, he’s unhappy with it, wants to be farther up the trail but when he gets there will be just as unhappy because then *it* will be “here”. What he’s looking for, what he wants, is all around him, but he doesn’t want that because it *is* all around him. 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