You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated.

I have never regarded myself as a hero, but Tenzing undoubtedly was.

I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it.

Once I've decided to do something, I do usually try to carry it through to fruition.

We knocked the bastard off.

I don't spend a lot of time thinking about dying, but I like to think that I've - if it did occur - that I would die peacefully and not make too much of a fuss about it.