Quote by George Mallory

The first question which you will ask and which I must try to answer is this, What is the use of climbing Mount Everest? and my answer must at once be, It is no use. There is not the slightest prospect of any gain whatsoever. Oh, we may learn a little about the behaviour of the human body at high altitudes, and possibly medical men may turn our observation to some account for the purposes of aviation. But otherwise nothing will come of it. We shall not bring back a single bit of gold or silver, not a gem, nor any coal or iron. We shall not find a single foot of earth that can be planted with crops to raise food. It's no use. So, if you cannot understand that there is something in man which responds to the challenge of this mountain and goes out to meet it, that the struggle is the struggle of life itself upward and forever upward, then you won't see why we go. What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for.

Summary

In this quote, mountaineer George Mallory is asked about the purpose of climbing Mount Everest. He responds by acknowledging that there are no material gains to be had â€“ no gold, silver, or resources that can be extracted. However, Mallory argues that there is a fundamental human drive to face challenges and strive for greatness, even if there is no practical benefit. He believes that the true purpose of life is to find joy and fulfillment, and that mountaineering, with all its dangers and hardships, offers a unique opportunity for individuals to experience this sense of pure joy.