I knew that you couldn't make a living simply writing about the outdoors, so I made an effort from the beginning of my freelance career to write about other subjects.
Jon KrakauerRead
Getting to the top of any given mountain was considered much less important than how one got there: prestige was earned by tackling the most unforgiving routes with minimal equipment, in the boldest style imaginable.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The journey and challenges faced are more important than the destination itself.
In this quote, Jon Krakauer emphasizes that the true value lies not in reaching the summit of a mountain, but in the manner of the ascent. It suggests that overcoming difficulties and demonstrating bravery and skill in challenging circumstances are what earn respect and prestige, rather than simply achieving the end goal without regard for the effort and approach taken to get there.
Themes
MountainJourneyCouragePrestigeEffort
In practice
Example use cases
Inspired by the quote, I shared it during a leadership seminar to emphasize the importance of ethical journeys in achieving success.
More from Jon Krakauer
All quotes →He read a lot. He used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he did too much thinking. Sometimes he tried too hard to make sense of the world, to figure out why people were bad to each other so often. A couple of times I tried to tell him it was a mistake to get too deep into that kind of stuff, but Alex got stuck on things. He always had to know the absolute right answer before he could go on to the next thing.
Jon KrakauerRead
Having stumbled upon a tolerable career, for the first time in my life I was actually living above the poverty line. My hunger to climb had been blunted, in short, by a bunch of small satisfactions that added up to something like happiness.
Jon KrakauerRead
The way Everest is guided is very different from the way other mountains are guided, and it flies in the face of values I hold dear: self-reliance, taking responsibility for what you do, making your own decisions, trusting your judgment - the kind of judgment that comes only through paying your dues, through experience.
Jon KrakauerRead
Mountains make poor receptacles for dreams.
Jon KrakauerRead
Almost every magazine piece I've ever written, I felt like I haven't done it justice, like it was just a gloss.
Jon KrakauerRead
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