--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Morally, however, we had had absolutely…" description: "\"“Morally, however, we had had absolutely no choice but to abort our summit try to help Thor and Chantal get down the mountain. That’s why I find it so ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/ed-viesturs-26728_everest_morally-however-we-had-had-absolutely-no_726458.png" --- # Morally, however, we had had absolutely no choice but to… ![“Morally, however, we had had absolutely no choice but to abort our summit try to help Thor and Chantal get down the mountain. That’s why I find it so hard to stomach all the accounts in recent years—especially on Everest—of climbers ignoring others in trouble for fear a rescue effort would…” quote by Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/ed-viesturs-26728_everest_morally-however-we-had-had-absolutely-no_726458.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/ed-viesturs-26728_everest_morally-however-we-had-had-absolutely-no_726458.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/837/ed-viesturs-26728_everest_morally-however-we-had-had-absolutely-no_726458.png) > ““Morally, however, we had had absolutely no choice but to abort our summit try to help Thor and Chantal get down the mountain. That’s why I find it so hard to stomach all the accounts in recent years—especially on Everest—of climbers ignoring others in trouble for fear a rescue effort would sabotage their own summit bids.”” [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the moral dilemma of risking personal goals to rescue others in danger. **In simple terms:** Rescue over summit. Key Takeaway Prioritize lives over achievement. Themes ethics altruism risk Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - expeditions - emergency response - team dynamics - personal ambition Key Concepts moral responsibility mountaineering Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice for a stranger? - How do you balance ambition and compassion? A Different Perspective Rescues can jeopardize safety of rescuers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everest/) ## Related quotes > [“By now, a significant portion of the whole Sherpa economy depends on the spring and fall seasons on Everest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/by-now-a-significant-portion-of-the-whole-sherpa-economy-depends-on/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [Early on May 23, 1997, from 28,500 feet on Everest, I witnessed the incredible shadow of the mountain, the penumbra, forming to the west…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/early-on-may-23-1997-from-28-500-feet-on-everest-i-witnessed-the/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [Why climb Mount Everest? Because it's there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/why-climb-mount-everest-because-it-s-there/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) > [“...I quickly came to understand that climbing Everest was primarily about enduring pain. And in subjecting ourselves to week after week of toil, tedium,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/i-quickly-came-to-understand-that-climbing-everest-was-primarily/) [Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/) > [- Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest, Sir? - Because it is there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/why-do-you-want-to-climb-mt-everest-sir-because-it-is-there/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) > [I chose to climb Everest because I thought it was the toughest thing to do. In May 2011, I made the decision and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/i-chose-to-climb-everest-because-i-thought-it-was-the-toughest-thing/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [ Because it is there \[famous explanation for wanting to climb Mount Everest\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/because-it-is-there-famous-explanation-for-wanting-to-climb-mount/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) > [I was never comfortable with the risk of climbing in the Himalayas, or the amount of time in idleness that is involved in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fossett/i-was-never-comfortable-with-the-risk-of-climbing-in-the-himalayas-or/) [Steve Fossett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fossett/) > [I have a very different fear if I'm all alone in the summit area of Mount Everest and if I know that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/i-have-a-very-different-fear-if-i-m-all-alone-in-the-summit-area-of/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [“Food for thought: Every dead body on Mount Everest was once a highly motivated person. Stay lazy my friends. It may save your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/food-for-thought-every-dead-body-on-mount-everest-was-once-a-highly/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Mount Everest is a very spiritual place, it's a beautiful mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-pugh/mount-everest-is-a-very-spiritual-place-it-s-a-beautiful-mountain/) [Lewis Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-pugh/) > [Placing my buttocks on a cold toilet seat is my climbing Mount Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/placing-my-buttocks-on-a-cold-toilet-seat-is-my-climbing-mount-everest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Everest is how it is right now. We have to fix ropes up there; we have the commercial expeditions. If you don't like that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/everest-is-how-it-is-right-now-we-have-to-fix-ropes-up-there-we-have/) [Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/) ## More by Ed Viesturs > [“No matter what the future holds in store, I can say now—out loud, without hesitation—something that, sadly, all too few men and women can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/no-matter-what-the-future-holds-in-store-i-can-say-now-out-loud/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“What drives my life is not the desire to get along with other people or make friends so much as a moral obligation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/what-drives-my-life-is-not-the-desire-to-get-along-with-other-people/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [The mountain decides whether you climb or not. The art of mountaineering is knowing when to go, when to stay, and when to retreat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/the-mountain-decides-whether-you-climb-or-not-the-art-of/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [I believe that, with anything in life, if you have the patience, desire and passion, you can do whatever you set your mind to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/i-believe-that-with-anything-in-life-if-you-have-the-patience-desire/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [There are no short cuts to the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/there-are-no-short-cuts-to-the-top/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“That’s leadership: lead by example, lead from the front, inspire people to follow your lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/that-s-leadership-lead-by-example-lead-from-the-front-inspire-people/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“Although I remain uncertain about God or any particular religion, I believe in karma. What goes around, comes around. How you live your life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/although-i-remain-uncertain-about-god-or-any-particular-religion-i/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/getting-to-the-top-is-optional-getting-down-is-mandatory/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“the men placed willow wands every 50 feet or so to mark their route—as I did in 1992, but as no one bothered to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/the-men-placed-willow-wands-every-50-feet-or-so-to-mark-their-route/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [Early on May 23, 1997, from 28,500 feet on Everest, I witnessed the incredible shadow of the mountain, the penumbra, forming to the west…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/early-on-may-23-1997-from-28-500-feet-on-everest-i-witnessed-the/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“By now, a significant portion of the whole Sherpa economy depends on the spring and fall seasons on Everest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/by-now-a-significant-portion-of-the-whole-sherpa-economy-depends-on/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“After two hours of the hardest”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/after-two-hours-of-the-hardest/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [“Viewed as a whole, climbing all fourteen 8,000ers would have seemed almost impossible, but I took it one day at a time, one step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/viewed-as-a-whole-climbing-all-fourteen-8-000ers-would-have-seemed/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [I like things that are difficult, physically and mentally. Things that are really challenging, things that really maybe take a long time but really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/i-like-things-that-are-difficult-physically-and-mentally-things-that/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) > [Yeah, but a mistake is a mistake even if you get away with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-viesturs/yeah-but-a-mistake-is-a-mistake-even-if-you-get-away-with-it/) [Ed Viesturs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) [Explore all 21 Ed Viesturs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-viesturs/) ## More Everest quotes > [Everest is how it is right now. We have to fix ropes up there; we have the commercial expeditions. If you don't like that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ueli-steck/everest-is-how-it-is-right-now-we-have-to-fix-ropes-up-there-we-have/) [Ueli Steck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ueli-steck/) > [ I've often thought about that and the only suitable member to join me on that climb \[to Everest\] was George Lowe: he was strong,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-often-thought-about-that-and-the-only-suitable-member-to-join-me/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Some day I'm going to climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/some-day-i-m-going-to-climb-everest/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Placing my buttocks on a cold toilet seat is my climbing Mount Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/placing-my-buttocks-on-a-cold-toilet-seat-is-my-climbing-mount-everest/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had I been a man I might have explored the Poles or climbed Mount Everest, but as it was my spirit found outlet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-johnson/had-i-been-a-man-i-might-have-explored-the-poles-or-climbed-mount/) [Amy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-johnson/) > [Mount Everest is a very spiritual place, it's a beautiful mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-pugh/mount-everest-is-a-very-spiritual-place-it-s-a-beautiful-mountain/) [Lewis Pugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-pugh/) > [“Food for thought: Every dead body on Mount Everest was once a highly motivated person. Stay lazy my friends. It may save your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/food-for-thought-every-dead-body-on-mount-everest-was-once-a-highly/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [I have a very different fear if I'm all alone in the summit area of Mount Everest and if I know that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/i-have-a-very-different-fear-if-i-m-all-alone-in-the-summit-area-of/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [I was never comfortable with the risk of climbing in the Himalayas, or the amount of time in idleness that is involved in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-fossett/i-was-never-comfortable-with-the-risk-of-climbing-in-the-himalayas-or/) [Steve Fossett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-fossett/) > [At a time when it's possible for thirty people to stand on the top of Everest in one day, Antarctica still remains a remote,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/at-a-time-when-it-s-possible-for-thirty-people-to-stand-on-the-top-of/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [ Because it is there \[famous explanation for wanting to climb Mount Everest\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/because-it-is-there-famous-explanation-for-wanting-to-climb-mount/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) > [I chose to climb Everest because I thought it was the toughest thing to do. In May 2011, I made the decision and by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arunima-sinha/i-chose-to-climb-everest-because-i-thought-it-was-the-toughest-thing/) [Arunima Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arunima-sinha/) > [What we can do now is contribute to a clearer understanding of what happened that day on Everest in the hope that the lessons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatoli-boukreev/what-we-can-do-now-is-contribute-to-a-clearer-understanding-of-what/) [Anatoli Boukreev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatoli-boukreev/) > [Expedition EVEREST adds a new dimension to our storytelling in Disney's Animal Kingdom. It's a thrilling adventure themed to the folklore of the mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rohde/expedition-everest-adds-a-new-dimension-to-our-storytelling-in-disney/) Joe Rohde > [- Why do you want to climb Mt. Everest, Sir? - Because it is there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/why-do-you-want-to-climb-mt-everest-sir-because-it-is-there/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) [Browse all 260 Everest quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everest/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Morally, however, we had had absolutely no choice but to abort our summit try to help Thor and Chantal get down the mountain. 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