--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think my first thought on reaching the…" description: "\"I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first thought was one of a little ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/edmund-hillary-3760_after_i-think-my-first-thought-on-reaching-the_1035989.jpg" --- # I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of… ![“I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first thought was one of a little bit of surprise. I was a little bit surprised that here I was, Ed Hillary, on top of Mt. Everest. After all, this is the ambition of most…” quote by Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/edmund-hillary-3760_after_i-think-my-first-thought-on-reaching-the_1035989.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/edmund-hillary-3760_after_i-think-my-first-thought-on-reaching-the_1035989.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2ce/edmund-hillary-3760_after_i-think-my-first-thought-on-reaching-the_1035989.jpg) > “I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first thought was one of a little bit of surprise. I was a little bit surprised that here I was, Ed Hillary, on top of Mt. Everest. After all, this is the ambition of most mountaineers.” [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reaching a pinnacle can feel surreal; surprise reminds us of humility despite achievement. **In simple terms:** Even at the top, stay humble. Key Takeaway Recognize awe and humility after success. Themes humility achievement surprise reflection Mood reflective humble Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - Mountaineering - Career milestones - Personal triumphs Key Concepts Perspective Mindfulness Human limits Questions to Reflect On - What surprised you most after achieving a goal? - How do you stay grounded after success? A Different Perspective Success can breed overconfidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everest/) [Mt everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mt-everest/) [Summit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summit/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprised](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprised/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [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 really haven't liked the commercialization of mountaineering, particularly of Mt. Everest. By paying $65,000, you can be conducted to the summit by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-really-haven-t-liked-the-commercialization-of-mountaineering/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [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/) > [The people that first climbed Mt. Everest weren't scientists, right, they were adventurers. If you're an adventurer, you want to go yourself. It's different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/the-people-that-first-climbed-mt-everest-weren-t-scientists-right/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [The biggest accomplishment, in racial terms, for Barack Obama was being elected. He had to overcome his blackness to be elected. He climbed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-kennedy/the-biggest-accomplishment-in-racial-terms-for-barack-obama-was-being/) [Randall Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-kennedy/) > [When the climbers in 1953 planted their flags on the highest mountain, they set them in snow over the skeletons of creatures that had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcphee/when-the-climbers-in-1953-planted-their-flags-on-the-highest-mountain/) [John McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcphee/) > [Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junko-tabei/technique-and-ability-alone-do-not-get-you-to-the-top-it-is-the/) Junko Tabei > [If the reason for climbing Mt. Everest is that it's hard to do, why does everyone go up the easy side?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-the-reason-for-climbing-mt-everest-is-that-it-s-hard-to-do-why/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Why climb Mt. Everest? Because it's there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/higher-grounds/why-climb-mt-everest-because-it-s-there/) [Higher Grounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/higher-grounds/) > [- 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 can't understand why men make all this fuss about Everest-it's only a mountain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junko-tabei/i-can-t-understand-why-men-make-all-this-fuss-about-everest-it-s-only/) Junko Tabei > [Mt. Everest of Earth is 8.8 km tall; Mt. Olympus of Mars is 22 km tall. Every time you see a giant, you must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/mt-everest-of-earth-is-8-8-km-tall-mt-olympus-of-mars-is-22-km-tall/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Only the person who risks is truly free. A man's conquest of himself dwarfs the conquest of Mt. Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/only-the-person-who-risks-is-truly-free-a-man-s-conquest-of-himself/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Mountains are not fair or unfair, they are just dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/mountains-are-not-fair-or-unfair-they-are-just-dangerous/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [You've climbed the highest mountain in the world. What's left ? It's all downhill from there. You've got to set your sights on something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willi-unsoeld/you-ve-climbed-the-highest-mountain-in-the-world-what-s-left-it-s-all/) [Willi Unsoeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willi-unsoeld/) ## More by 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/) > [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/) > [Nothing can replace courage, a resounding motivation and that little bit of luck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/nothing-can-replace-courage-a-resounding-motivation-and-that-little/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [With practice and focus, you can extend yourself far more than you ever believed possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/with-practice-and-focus-you-can-extend-yourself-far-more-than-you/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [“With all respect, Sahib, you have little to teach us in strength and toughness. And we do not envy you your restless spirits. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/with-all-respect-sahib-you-have-little-to-teach-us-in-strength-and/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Environmental problems are really social problems anyway. They begin with people as the cause and end with people as the victims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/environmental-problems-are-really-social-problems-anyway-they-begin/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Even when you're 50, you can make the effort to improve your standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/even-when-you-re-50-you-can-make-the-effort-to-improve-your-standards/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [I've always hated the danger part of climbing, and it's great to come down again because it's safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/i-ve-always-hated-the-danger-part-of-climbing-and-it-s-great-to-come/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/it-is-not-the-mountain-we-conquer-but-ourselves/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Everest you won't change, but I will get better...I will conquer you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/everest-you-won-t-change-but-i-will-get-better-i-will-conquer-you/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [Boredom has always been a problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/boredom-has-always-been-a-problem/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [If the going is tough and the pressure is on, If the reserves of strength have been drained and the summit is still not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/if-the-going-is-tough-and-the-pressure-is-on-if-the-reserves-of/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [It's not a real adventure when you have to pay for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/it-s-not-a-real-adventure-when-you-have-to-pay-for-it/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [In those days we were punished very frequently and I felt that it was often unjust, and so I would resist the desire to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/in-those-days-we-were-punished-very-frequently-and-i-felt-that-it-was/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) > [When I was climbing, I built up a close relationship with the Sherpa people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/when-i-was-climbing-i-built-up-a-close-relationship-with-the-sherpa/) [Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) [Explore all 122 Edmund Hillary quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/) ## More After quotes > [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/) [Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/) [John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/) > [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/) [James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/) > [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/) Bert Lahr > [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/) [Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/) > [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/) [Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/) Browse all 3,411 After quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think my first thought on reaching the summit- of course, I was very, very pleased to be there, naturally - but my first thought was one of a little bit of surprise. I was a little bit surprised that here I was, Ed Hillary, on top of Mt. Everest. 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