Jon Krakauer Quotes

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

For me, climbing has always been about adventure and that involves difficulties, danger and exposure, so I deliberately set out to climb with as little equipment as possible.

Every day I do something that freaks me out.

Auditioning for something you already know and love is terrifying.

I've been out of my comfort zone a lot, and it makes me more vulnerable, but I have to draw the line somewhere, and don't think I would go skydiving!

Stand-up comedy seems like a terrifying thing. Objectively. Before anyone has done it, it seems like one of the most frightening things you could conceive, and there's just no shortcut - you just have to do it.

Life has a certain flavor for those who have fought and risked all that the sheltered and protected can never experience.

Life is a risk.

I was scared many times on Everest, but this is all part of the challenge. When I fell down a crevasse, it was pretty scary.

I don't have any feeling of accomplishment about anything unless there's a lot of risk to it.

Travel can also be the spirit of adventure somewhat tamed, for those who desire to do something they are a bit afraid of.

Living is risking.

He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride.

The mission of professional mountain climbers is almost impossibly difficult by design: Their very livelihood is based on achieving the unprecedented. Their expeditions are complicated, exhausting, often life-threatening. Risk is the fuel that keeps them going.

The thing that makes me feel most alive is knowing that there's something that I have to do that I'm afraid of.

I have always said that a mountain without danger is not a mountain.

In the West, the art of rock climbing is growing because it has to do with less risk, good muscles. But the people seeking high goals in high places are in Eastern Europe, and they reach their goals because they are willing to suffer more.

Adventures are only interesting once you've lived to see the end of them. Before that, they are nothing but fear, and being too cold or too hot or too wet or too hungry, and getting hurt.

There was a time when I just felt like a superwoman. I was like, 'I got Jesus! I ain't afraid!' But, the truth is, I want to do things right, and sometimes I am afraid that I'm not good enough or that I'm not going to handle something right.

I think I'd like to be a lion tamer, actually. That - that would provide the most audience entertainment if something went really badly.

The biggest edge I live on is directing. That's the most scary, dangerous thing you can do in your life.

Well, I always run the risk of falling on my face, which has in fact happened.

There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.

They will take a role that scares them over a role that doesn't. That's another thing I like about actors.

And for me, the real world involves everything: risk, danger, beauty, energy, all we meet with in the real world.