--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wonder if it's like this for mountain…" description: "\"I wonder if it's like this for mountain climbers, he thought. You climb bigger and bigger mountains and you know that one day one of them is going to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/terry-pratchett-19_air_i-wonder-if-it-s-like-this-for-mountain_2014656.jpg" --- # I wonder if it's like this for mountain climbers, he… ![“I wonder if it's like this for mountain climbers, he thought. You climb bigger and bigger mountains and you know that one day one of them is going to be just that bit too steep. But you go on doing it, because it’s so-o good when you breathe the air up there. And you know you'll die falling.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/terry-pratchett-19_air_i-wonder-if-it-s-like-this-for-mountain_2014656.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/terry-pratchett-19_air_i-wonder-if-it-s-like-this-for-mountain_2014656.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f4c/terry-pratchett-19_air_i-wonder-if-it-s-like-this-for-mountain_2014656.jpg) > “I wonder if it's like this for mountain climbers, he thought. You climb bigger and bigger mountains and you know that one day one of them is going to be just that bit too steep. But you go on doing it, because it’s so-o good when you breathe the air up there. And you know you'll die falling.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Climbing ever higher challenges is driven by the thrill of achievement despite known risks. **In simple terms:** Risky ambition fuels growth. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges, accept danger. Themes ambition risk adventure Mood determined reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mountain climbing - career advancement - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts Existentialism human drive Questions to Reflect On - What risk are you willing to take? - How do you balance thrill and safety? A Different Perspective Success may come with fatal consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climbers/) [Mountain climbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mountain-climbers/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [There's a lot of mountain climbers trapped inside of bodies of people behind the counter at Kinko's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/there-s-a-lot-of-mountain-climbers-trapped-inside-of-bodies-of-people/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [Whenever a climber leaves the known paths, he enters an area without rules or routines... The only advice comes from deep inside the self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-kurtyka/whenever-a-climber-leaves-the-known-paths-he-enters-an-area-without/) [Wojciech Kurtyka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-kurtyka/) > [A saint is Christ's bride, totally attached, faithful, dependent. A saint is also totally independent, detached from idols and from other husbands... A saint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/a-saint-is-christ-s-bride-totally-attached-faithful-dependent-a-saint/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [There is an interconnectedness among members that bonds the family, much like mountain climbers who rope themselves together when climbing a mountain, so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/there-is-an-interconnectedness-among-members-that-bonds-the-family/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [But we are all insane, anyway. Note the mountain-climbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/but-we-are-all-insane-anyway-note-the-mountain-climbers/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [If we ever have children and they become climbers I'll tell them, Stay away from expeditions. They'll make you poor and neurotic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-child/if-we-ever-have-children-and-they-become-climbers-i-ll-tell-them-stay/) [Greg Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-child/) > [I've climbed with some of the best climbers in the world, more importantly, to me, they are some of the best people in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-wickwire/i-ve-climbed-with-some-of-the-best-climbers-in-the-world-more/) Jim Wickwire > [The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain - he is inspired by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-experienced-mountain-climber-is-not-intimidated-by-a-mountain-he/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [How wonderful is Cold Mountain Climbers are all afraid The moon shines on clear water twinkle twinkle Wind rustles the tall grass Plum trees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanshan/how-wonderful-is-cold-mountain-climbers-are-all-afraid-the-moon/) [Hanshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanshan/) > [Each climber loses one finger or toe once in a while. This is a small but important reason for Polish climbers success. Western climbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wanda-rutkiewicz/each-climber-loses-one-finger-or-toe-once-in-a-while-this-is-a-small/) Wanda Rutkiewicz > [Personally, I would rather climb in the high mountains. I have always abhorred the tremendous heat, the dirt-filled cracks, the ant-covered foul-smelling trees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/personally-i-would-rather-climb-in-the-high-mountains-i-have-always/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [The reason it was so scary was that there was only one climber capable of rescuing us, and that was Layton Kor, and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvon-chouinard/the-reason-it-was-so-scary-was-that-there-was-only-one-climber/) [Yvon Chouinard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvon-chouinard/) > [Enjoyment, on the other hand, is not always pleasant, and it can be very stressful at times. A mountain climber, for example, may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/enjoyment-on-the-other-hand-is-not-always-pleasant-and-it-can-be-very/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [I love to read about the exploits of technical mountain climbers, but I've never done any vertical climbing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hobbs/i-love-to-read-about-the-exploits-of-technical-mountain-climbers-but/) [Will Hobbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hobbs/) > [First of all, who's your A&R? A mountain climber who plays an electric guitar? But he don't know the meaning of dope, When he's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gza/first-of-all-who-s-your-a-r-a-mountain-climber-who-plays-an-electric/) GZA ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. 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And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 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I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## More Air quotes > [I will be a tireless advocate for our District's defense priorities including Sheppard Air Force Base, Pantex, Bell Helicopter, universities conducting important research, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronny-jackson/i-will-be-a-tireless-advocate-for-our-district-s-defense-priorities/) [Ronny Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronny-jackson/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) > [If U.S. air, naval, missile, and ground forces were not in and around Korea, and if we were not treaty-bound to fight alongside South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/if-u-s-air-naval-missile-and-ground-forces-were-not-in-and-around/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The cooler days have brought a wistful mood upon him. 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