---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you're climbing at high altitudes…"
description: "\"When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.\" — Edmund Hillary"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg"
---

#  When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get…

![“When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.” quote by Edmund Hillary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg)

> “When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.”

[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.

High‑altitude climbing brings severe physical and mental hardships.

**In simple terms:** Climbing high is very hard.

Key Takeaway

Prepare physically and mentally for altitude challenges.

Themes

adventure altitude hardship resilience exploration

Mood

cautionary inspirational

Type

adventure survival

When to use this quote

- mountaineering
- expedition planning
- training regimes
- emergency response

Key Concepts

physiology psychology endurance

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you cope with extreme conditions?
- What preparation reduces altitude risks?

A Different Perspective

Altitude sickness can be life‑threatening without proper acclimatization.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Altitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altitudes/) [Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbing/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/)

## Related quotes

> [“The only known way for a sea level adapted human to avoid lifelong high altitude induced disease is to not venture to high altitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-only-known-way-for-a-sea-level-adapted-human-to-avoid-lifelong/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [You can climb too high for your own good. Linger too long at high altitudes and your hearing dulls and your eyesight dims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-can-climb-too-high-for-your-own-good-linger-too-long-at-high/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Mountaineers have often observed a lack of clarity in their mental state at high altitudes; it is difficult for the stupid mind to observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/mountaineers-have-often-observed-a-lack-of-clarity-in-their-mental/)

[George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/)

> [I simply like the monumentality of the subjects - the opportunity for metaphor and the varied light that comes with high altitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/i-simply-like-the-monumentality-of-the-subjects-the-opportunity-for/)

[Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/)

> [“How hazardous are high powered industrial sodium LASER exposures to night shift summit staff working at very high altitudes across their full lifespan?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/how-hazardous-are-high-powered-industrial-sodium-laser-exposures-to/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [When you are very successful, you fly at the very high altitudes and up there you long for to be applauded by the Stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-are-very-successful-you-fly-at-the-very-high-altitudes-and/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [That's generally true of people who drop bombs from high altitudes. You don't know what's going on below. You don't see the human consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/that-s-generally-true-of-people-who-drop-bombs-from-high-altitudes/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

> [“Butter tea has been known for centuries to improve health in people exposed to high altitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/butter-tea-has-been-known-for-centuries-to-improve-health-in-people/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [We have made it impossible for children to fall very far—and in so doing, we have robbed them of the joys of climbing high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mcardle/we-have-made-it-impossible-for-children-to-fall-very-far-and-in-so/)

[Megan McArdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mcardle/)

> [I once tried standing up on my toes to see far out in the distance, but I found that I could see much farther…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-once-tried-standing-up-on-my-toes-to-see-far-out-in-the-distance/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To plunder, to lie, to show your arse, are three essentials for climbing high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/to-plunder-to-lie-to-show-your-arse-are-three-essentials-for-climbing/)

[Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/)

> [It is proper that noble spirits, equipped with truth and enlightened with the Divine intelligence, should arm themselves against dense ignorance by climbing up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giordano-bruno/it-is-proper-that-noble-spirits-equipped-with-truth-and-enlightened/)

[Giordano Bruno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giordano-bruno/)

> [“Very high altitude astronomy only works by ignoring established biological science”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/very-high-altitude-astronomy-only-works-by-ignoring-established/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [“Computer simulations confirm this intuition and suggest that injection in the tropics at altitudes a bit over 20 kilometers (65 thousand feet) would be adequate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-keith/computer-simulations-confirm-this-intuition-and-suggest-that/)

[David Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-keith/)

> [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

## 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 Altitudes quotes

> [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/)

[M.T. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-t-anderson/)

> [“Computer simulations confirm this intuition and suggest that injection in the tropics at altitudes a bit over 20 kilometers (65 thousand feet) would be adequate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-keith/computer-simulations-confirm-this-intuition-and-suggest-that/)

[David Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-keith/)

> [“Very high altitude astronomy only works by ignoring established biological science”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/very-high-altitude-astronomy-only-works-by-ignoring-established/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [“How hazardous are high powered industrial sodium LASER exposures to night shift summit staff working at very high altitudes across their full lifespan?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/how-hazardous-are-high-powered-industrial-sodium-laser-exposures-to/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [I simply like the monumentality of the subjects - the opportunity for metaphor and the varied light that comes with high altitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-genn/i-simply-like-the-monumentality-of-the-subjects-the-opportunity-for/)

[Robert Genn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-genn/)

> [“The only known way for a sea level adapted human to avoid lifelong high altitude induced disease is to not venture to high altitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-only-known-way-for-a-sea-level-adapted-human-to-avoid-lifelong/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [The bottom line is there is large uncertainty because nobody has a very good handle on aerodynamics at those altitudes and at those speeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-hale/the-bottom-line-is-there-is-large-uncertainty-because-nobody-has-a/)

Wayne Hale

> [“Butter tea has been known for centuries to improve health in people exposed to high altitudes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/butter-tea-has-been-known-for-centuries-to-improve-health-in-people/)

[Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/)

> [“A sincere attitude of gratitude is a beatitude for secured altitudes. Appreciate what you have been given and you will be promoted higher.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-sincere-attitude-of-gratitude-is-a-beatitude-for-secured-altitudes/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [You can climb too high for your own good. Linger too long at high altitudes and your hearing dulls and your eyesight dims.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/you-can-climb-too-high-for-your-own-good-linger-too-long-at-high/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [Mountaineers have often observed a lack of clarity in their mental state at high altitudes; it is difficult for the stupid mind to observe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/mountaineers-have-often-observed-a-lack-of-clarity-in-their-mental/)

[George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/)

> [When you are very successful, you fly at the very high altitudes and up there you long for to be applauded by the Stars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-you-are-very-successful-you-fly-at-the-very-high-altitudes-and/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [That's generally true of people who drop bombs from high altitudes. You don't know what's going on below. You don't see the human consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/that-s-generally-true-of-people-who-drop-bombs-from-high-altitudes/)

[Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/)

[Browse all 14 Altitudes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altitudes/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Edmund Hillary"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-life-can-get-pretty-miserable/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Altitudes"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-life-can-get-pretty-miserable/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d8/edmund-hillary-3760_altitudes_when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-l_728766.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you're climbing at high altitudes, life can get pretty miserable.” — Edmund Hillary",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Edmund Hillary",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-hillary/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When you're climbing at high altitudes,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-life-can-get-pretty-miserable/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-hillary/when-you-re-climbing-at-high-altitudes-life-can-get-pretty-miserable/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```