Matterhorn Quotes

• Matterhorn is my metaphor of the Vietnam War - we built it, we abandoned it, we assaulted it, we lost, and then we abandoned it again.

  Karl Marlantes

  War, Vietnam, Metaphor

  "A Vietnam Epic Uncovers Old Wounds: An Interview with Karl Marlantes". Interview with Evan James, www.motherjones.com. April 30, 2010.

  59 Copy quote

  Show source

• I began writing 'Matterhorn' in 1975 and for more than 30 years I kept working on my novel in my spare time, unable to get an agent or publisher to even read the manuscript.

  Karl Marlantes

  Writing, Years, Agents

  57 Copy quote

• As a member of an escorted tour, you don't even have to know the Matterhorn isn't a tuba.

  Temple Fielding

  Funny, Climbing, Tubas

  52 Copy quote

• War is society's dirty work, usually done by kids cleaning up failures perpetrated by adults.

  Karl Marlantes

  War, Dirty, Kids

  Karl Marlantes (2011). “What It Is Like To Go To War”, p.127, Atlantic Books Ltd

  49 Copy quote

  Show source

• He lay before God as a woman opens herself to a man, with legs apart, stomach exposed, arms open. But unlike some women, he did not have the inner strength that allowed them to do such a thing without fear. There was no woman’s strength in Mellas at all.

  Karl Marlantes

  Men, Inner Strength, Legs

  Karl Marlantes (2010). “Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War”, p.414, Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

  16 Copy quote

  Show source

• It was all absurd, without reason or meaning. People who didn't know each other were going to kill each other over a hill none of them cared about

  Karl Marlantes

  People, Hills, Reason

  Karl Marlantes (2010). “Matterhorn”, p.185, Atlantic Books Ltd

  14 Copy quote

  Show source

• Mathematical study and research are very suggestive of mountaineering. Whymper made several efforts before he climbed the Matterhorn in the 1860's and even then it cost the life of four of his party. Now, however, any tourist can be hauled up for a small cost, and perhaps does not appreciate the difficulty of the original ascent. So in mathematics, it may be found hard to realise the great initial difficulty of making a little step which now seems so natural and obvious, and it may not be surprising if such a step has been found and lost again.

  Louis J. Mordell

  Party, Science, Appreciate

  7 Copy quote

• I am afraid if there is anything to be afraid of. A precipice cannot hurt you. Lions and tigers can. The streets of New York I consider more dangerous than the Matterhorn to a thoroughly competent and careful climber.

  Annie Smith Peck

  Hurt, New York, Mountain

  12 Copy quote

• Yeah, I mean, climbing's always been a massive hobby of mine up until, kind of, recent times when I've had family, but no, it's been a driving passion in my life and, uh, I've always wanted to climb the Matterhorn. It was the mountain that, sort of, inspired me to climb, as a youngster. So, it was great to be able to get to do it.

  Andy Serkis

  Passion, Mean, Climbing

  "Andy Serkis Interview – Talks THE HOBBIT, TINTIN, BURKE & HARE and SEX & DRUGS & ROCK & ROLL". Interview with Ron Messer, collider.com. May 16, 2010.

  6 Copy quote

  Show source