Alpinism is the art of climbing mountains by confronting the greatest dangers with the greatest prudence. Art is used here to mean the accomplishment… - René Daumal

Art is here taken to mean knowledge realized in action.

Philosophy teaches how man thinks he thinks; but drinking shows how he really thinks.

Con algo de dinero, se consigue sacar de la civilización las pocas satisfacciones fundamentales para el cuerpo. Lo demás, es camelo. Camelos, modelos y señuelos, en eso consiste toda nuestra vida, entre el diafragma y la tapa de los sesos. Mi Superior tenía razón: padezco una incurable necesidad de entender. No quiero morirme sin haber entendido por qué he vivido.

I am dead because I lack desire;
I lack desire because I think I possess;
I think I possess because I do not try to give.
In trying to give, you see that you have nothing;
Seeing you have nothing, you try to give of yourself;
Trying to give of yourself, you see that you are nothing;
Seeing you are nothing, you desire to become;
In desiring to become, you begin to live.