Better a live donkey than a dead lion

"Better a live donkey than a dead lion. " • Shackleton (1874 -1922), after failing to reach the south pole by 100 km.

"Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale. " • Scott, Message to the Public

"Men Wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success. " • Ernest Shackleton (1874 -1922), [probably fake] newspaper announcement before his Endurance Expedition

"The English have loudly and openly told the world that ski and dogs are unusable in these regions and that fur clothes are rubbish. We will see -- we will see. " • Roald Amundsen (1872 -1928).

"I maintain that our arrangements for returning were quite adequate, and that no one in the world would have expected the temperatures and surfaces which we encountered at this time of the year. " • Robert Falcon Scott.

"Adventure is just bad planning. " – Roald Amundsen (1872— 1928).

"Having an adventure shows that someone is incompetent, that something has gone wrong. An adventure is interesting enough — in retrospect. Especially to the person who didn't have it. " • Vilhjalmur Stefansson

"Nothing easier. One step beyond the pole, you see, and the north wind becomes a south one. " • Robert Peary (1856 -1920), explaining how he knew he had reached the North Pole.