--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If one should ask me what \"use\" there was…" description: "\"“If one should ask me what \"use\" there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I would be compelled to answer \"none.\" There i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg" --- # If one should ask me what "use" there was in climbing, or… ![“If one should ask me what "use" there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I would be compelled to answer "none." There is no scientific end to be served; simply the gratification of the impulse of achievement, the indomitable desire to see what lies beyond the heart…” quote by George Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg) > ““If one should ask me what "use" there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I would be compelled to answer "none." There is no scientific end to be served; simply the gratification of the impulse of achievement, the indomitable desire to see what lies beyond the heart of man.”” [George Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mallory/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Climbing’s value lies not in practical benefit but in the pure drive to achieve and discover human limits. **In simple terms:** Climbing is about personal achievement, not utility. Key Takeaway Pursue goals for intrinsic fulfillment. Themes exploration human ambition self‑discovery Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - mountaineering - personal goal setting - creative endeavors Key Concepts existential purpose psychology of achievement Questions to Reflect On - Why do we seek challenges without external reward? - How does this drive shape identity? A Different Perspective Not everyone shares this intrinsic motivation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Peak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak/) [Peak Compelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak-compelled-364453/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientific End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientific-end-364454/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Use Climbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-climbing-364452/) ## Related quotes > [“People ask me, 'What is the use of climbing Mount Everest?' and my answer must at once be, 'It is of no use.'There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/people-ask-me-what-is-the-use-of-climbing-mount-everest-and-my-answer/) [George Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mallory/) > [The first question which you will ask and which I must try to answer is this; What is the use of climbing Mount Everest?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-leigh-mallory/the-first-question-which-you-will-ask-and-which-i-must-try-to-answer/) [George Leigh Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-leigh-mallory/) > [Every man needs to find a peak, a mountain top or a remote island of his own choosing that he reaches under his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-gerbault/every-man-needs-to-find-a-peak-a-mountain-top-or-a-remote-island-of/) [Alain Gerbault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-gerbault/) > [I practice on the acoustic guitar a little bit, but I think I have reached the peak of my talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/i-practice-on-the-acoustic-guitar-a-little-bit-but-i-think-i-have/) [Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/) > [I refuse to be one of those artists who, 10 years from now, they're bitter about the rise and the fall of their career.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/i-refuse-to-be-one-of-those-artists-who-10-years-from-now-they-re/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [I rooted for the Milwaukee Brewers and its stars, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. 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Basically, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-nash/a-guy-my-size-needs-a-tremendous-amount-of-protein-on-a-daily-basis/) [Kevin Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-nash/) > [From a logistical standpoint, I learned about when to peak, when to push, when to recover throughout the season.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/from-a-logistical-standpoint-i-learned-about-when-to-peak-when-to/) [Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/) > [My goal is to peak big in Rio because my goal is to win gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-carter/my-goal-is-to-peak-big-in-rio-because-my-goal-is-to-win-gold/) [Michelle Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-carter/) > [An artist's creative energy is ephemeral as a flower. It blooms and soon dies. No artist is great forever. Personally, I think I reached…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-ki-duk/an-artist-s-creative-energy-is-ephemeral-as-a-flower-it-blooms-and/) [Kim Ki-duk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-ki-duk/) ## More by George Mallory > [“Because it's there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/because-it-s-there/) [George Mallory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mallory/) > [“How to get the best of it all? 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Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) [Browse all 551 Gratification quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If one should ask me what \"use\" there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I would be compelled to answer \"none.\" There is no scientific end to be served; simply the gratification of the impulse of achievement, the indomitable desire to see what lies beyond the heart of man.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "George Mallory" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was-in-climbing-or-attempting-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gratification" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was-in-climbing-or-attempting-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/592/george-mallory-71326_science_if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was_1628402.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If one should ask me what \"use\" there was in climbing, or attempting to climb the world's highest peak, I…” — George Mallory", "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": "George Mallory", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mallory/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If one should ask me what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was-in-climbing-or-attempting-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mallory/if-one-should-ask-me-what-use-there-was-in-climbing-or-attempting-to/#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 } } ] } ```