--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it is a shame to be the second man on…" description: "\"If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame.\" — Tenzing Norgay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg" --- # If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest… ![“If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame.” quote by Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg) > “If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame.” [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting the stigma of being second can be embraced as personal pride and humility, turning perceived shame into motivation. **In simple terms:** Being second can be a source of pride. Key Takeaway Own your place, own your story. Themes humility pride motivation Mood reflective determined Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - mountaineering - career competition - personal setbacks Key Concepts self‑acceptance identity achievement Questions to Reflect On - How does acknowledging perceived shame change your drive? - What can you learn from being second? A Different Perspective Success is not only about being first. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everest/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mount everest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mount-everest/) [Mountain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain/) [Second Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/second-man-1007930/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Shame Second](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame-second-4309156/) ## Related quotes > [I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/i-have-climbed-my-mountain-but-i-must-still-live-my-life/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [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/) > [- 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/) > [ 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 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [First time you broke my heart SHAME on you¦ The second time you broke my heart SHAME on me¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/first-time-you-broke-my-heart-shame-on-you-the-second-time-you-broke/) [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/) > [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/) > [It wasn’t a gun wound. I just fell. (Zarek) No offense, but you’d have to fall of Mount Everest to have those kinds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/it-wasn-t-a-gun-wound-i-just-fell-zarek-no-offense-but-you-d-have-to/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [There is already a mountain of evidence that Saddam Hussein is gathering weapons for the purpose of using them. And adding additional information is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-fleischer/there-is-already-a-mountain-of-evidence-that-saddam-hussein-is/) [Ari Fleischer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-fleischer/) > [The sheer volume of evidence for survival after death is so immense that to ignore it is like standing at the foot of Mount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-wilson/the-sheer-volume-of-evidence-for-survival-after-death-is-so-immense/) [Colin Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-wilson/) > [“I suppose we go to Mount Everest, granted the opportunity, because-in a word-we can't help it.' George had written. 'Or, to state the matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gillman/i-suppose-we-go-to-mount-everest-granted-the-opportunity-because-in-a/) [Peter Gillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gillman/) ## More by Tenzing Norgay > [I hope my twin brother will look exactly like me but more sporty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/i-hope-my-twin-brother-will-look-exactly-like-me-but-more-sporty/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [It has been a long road. From a mountain coolie, a bearer of loads, to a wearer of a coat with rows of medals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/it-has-been-a-long-road-from-a-mountain-coolie-a-bearer-of-loads-to-a/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [We look up. For weeks, for months, that is all we have done. Look up. And there it is-the top of Everest. Only it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/we-look-up-for-weeks-for-months-that-is-all-we-have-done-look-up-and/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [To travel, to experience and learn: that is to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/to-travel-to-experience-and-learn-that-is-to-live/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [If I know I make this much trouble, I never climb Everest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/if-i-know-i-make-this-much-trouble-i-never-climb-everest/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [I have climbed my mountain, but I must still live my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/i-have-climbed-my-mountain-but-i-must-still-live-my-life/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) > [I needed to go . . . the pull of Everest was stronger for me than any force on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/i-needed-to-go-the-pull-of-everest-was-stronger-for-me-than-any-force/) [Tenzing Norgay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) [Explore all 8 Tenzing Norgay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tenzing Norgay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on-mount-everest-then-i-will/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Everest" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on-mount-everest-then-i-will/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/472/tenzing-norgay-48748_everest_if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on_2348661.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If it is a shame to be the second man on Mount Everest, then I will have to live with this shame.” — Tenzing Norgay", "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": "Tenzing Norgay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzing-norgay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If it is a shame to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on-mount-everest-then-i-will/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzing-norgay/if-it-is-a-shame-to-be-the-second-man-on-mount-everest-then-i-will/#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 } } ] } ```