If standing on top of the world's highest mountain isn't enough to give you good perspective, we don't know what is. Sir Edmund Hillary – who would have celebrated his 97th birthday today – was one of the first people to reach the top of Mount Everest, and he had worldly wisdom by the bucketload.

Sir Edmund summited with Nepalese Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who inspired the Kiwi climber to devote much of his life to supporting the Sherpa community – the unsung heroes of Himalayan climbing. "I have never regarded myself as a hero, but Tenzing undoubtedly was," said Sir Edmund when a statue of Norgay was unveiled in Darjeeling in 1997. Humbling words, from one of the world's greatest explorers.

After climbing Everest, Sir Edmund summited ten other Himalayan peaks, led an expedition to the South Pole, and travelled the length of the Ganges Credit: AP

On heroism

"We knocked the bastard off." – after summiting Everest

"You don't have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals."

"With practice and focus, you can extend yourself far more than you ever believed possible."

"I have discovered that even the mediocre can have adventures and even the fearful can achieve."

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On laughing your way through the bad times

"Good planning is important. I've also regarded a sense of humour as one of the most important things on a big expedition. When you're in a difficult or dangerous situation, or when you're depressed about the chances of success, someone who can make you laugh eases the tension."

"Nobody climbs mountains for scientific reasons. Science is used to raise money for the expeditions, but you really climb for the hell of it."

"With practice and focus, you can extend yourself far more than you ever believed possible" Credit: Ullstein Bild

On keeping things in perspective

"Life's a bit like mountaineering – never look down."

"Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain."

"While on top of Everest, I looked across the valley towards the great peak Makalu and mentally worked out a route about how it could be climbed. It showed me that even though I was standing on top of the world, it wasn't the end of everything. I was still looking beyond to other interesting challenges."

"I am a lucky man. I have had a dream and it has come true, and that is not a thing that happens often to men."

After his ascent of Everest, Sir Edmund devoted his life to helping the Sherpas of Nepal Credit: AP

On bravery

"Nothing can replace courage, a resounding motivation and that little bit of luck."

"I have been seriously afraid at times but have used my fear as a stimulating factor rather than allowing it to paralyse me."

"When you go to the mountains, you see them and you admire them. In a sense, they give you a challenge, and you try to express that challenge by climbing them."

On his legacy

"I don't know if I particularly want to be remembered for anything. I personally do not think I'm a great gift to the world. I've been very fortunate."

"I believe that of all the things I have done, exciting though many of them have been, there's no doubt in my mind that the most worthwhile have been the establishing of schools and hospitals, and the rebuilding of monasteries in the mountains."

On the joy of being at home

"That is the thing that international travel brings home to me – it's always good to be going home. This is the only place I want to live in; this is the place I want to see out my days."