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Roald Amundsen Quotes

Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. As the leader of the Antarctic expedition of 1910–12, which was the first to reach the South Pole, on 14 December 1911, he was a key personage during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. In 1926, he was the first leader for the air expedition to the North Pole, making him the first person, without dispute, to reach both poles. He is also known as having the first expedition to traverse the Northwest Passage in the Arctic.

In June 1928, while taking part in a rescue mission for the airship Italia, the plane in which he was a passenger disappeared.

✵ 16. July 1872 – 18. June 1928
Roald Amundsen photo
Roald Amundsen: 19 quotes5 likes

Famous Roald Amundsen Quotes

“Everything went like a dance.”

Roald Amundsen

citation needed

“We must always remember with gratitude and admiration the first sailors who steered their vessels through storms and mists, and increased our knowledge of the lands of ice in the South.”

Roald Amundsen

citation needed

“We reckoned now that we were at the Pole. Of course, every one of us knew that we were not standing on the absolute spot; it would be an impossibility with the time and the instruments at our disposal to ascertain the exact spot. But we were so near it that the few miles which possibly separated us from it could not be of the slightest importance. It was our intention to make a circle around this camp, with a radius of twelve and a half miles (20 kilometers), and to be satisfied with that. After we had halted we collected and congratulated each other. … we proceeded to the greatest and most solemn act of the whole journey - the planting of our flag.”

Roald Amundsen

Upon reaching the vicinity of 89° 58' 30" S, 60° E, named camp Polheim, about 1½ mile from the geographical Pole. Several forays were made from here, one southwards and beyond the pole.
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“… the brilliant aurora australis. … flush of daylight has moved to the north, … but it shows nevertheless that we have daylight here at the darkest time of the year, so there is not the absolute darkness that people think.”

Roald Amundsen

Explaining why the Antarctic winter is not all dark
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“Adventure is just bad planning.”

Roald Amundsen

citation needed

“The English have loudly and openly told the world that skis and dogs are unusable in these regions and that fur clothes are rubbish. We shall see — we shall see.”

Roald Amundsen

citation needed

Roald Amundsen Quotes about people

“The numerous people who imagine that a long stay in the Polar regions makes a man less susceptible of cold than other mortals are completely mistaken.”

Roald Amundsen

Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“"Is this really a Polar ship?" people asked;… our paper-supply which was in all respects as fine and elegant as it could be:… From one of the largest houses in Christiania we had a complete set of kitchen utensils and breakfast and dinner services, all of the best kind…. We carried an extraordinarily copious library; presents of books were showered upon us in great quantities. I suppose the Fram's library at the present moment contains at least 3,000 volumes.”

Roald Amundsen

Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“I may say that this is the greatest factor — the way in which the expedition is equipped — the way in which every difficulty is foreseen, and precautions taken for meeting or avoiding it. Victory awaits him who has everything in order — luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.”

Roald Amundsen

Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

Roald Amundsen Quotes

“Glad as we were to leave it behind, I cannot deny that it was with a certain feeling of melancholy that we saw it vanish. We had grown so fond of our beacons, and whenever we met them we greeted them as old friends. Many and great were the services these silent watchers did us on our long and lonely way.”

Roald Amundsen

On January 21, 1912, upon leaving behind the last navigation beacon at 80° 23' S
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“BEG TO INFORM YOU FRAM PROCEEDING ANTARCTIC — AMUNDSEN”

Roald Amundsen

Telegram to Scott, ca September 9, 1910
The vessel Fram departs from Madeira for the Antarctic

“So we arrived, and planted our flag at the geographical South Pole. Thanks be to God!”

Roald Amundsen

A quote also displayed at the geographical South Pole.

“We see many fine sunsets here, unique in the splendour of their colour. No doubt the surroundings in this fairyland of blue and white do much to increase their beauty.”

Roald Amundsen

Impressions around March 1911
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“Amundsen's name for a dangerous stretch where the ice could give way unexpectedly”

Roald Amundsen

Devil’s Ballroom
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“Everything is on a reduced scale here in the Polar regions; we can't afford to be extravagant.”

Roald Amundsen

Concerning the Polar accommodations
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“Personally, I regard alcohol, used in moderation, as a medicine in the Polar regions. … It is another matter on sledge journeys: there … alcohol must be banished … on account of the weight and space. … Two men who have fallen out a little in the course of the week are reconciled at once by the scent of rum; the past is forgotten, and they start afresh in friendly co-operation.”

Roald Amundsen

Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“The effect of the great and sudden change of altitude made itself felt at once; when I wanted to turn round in my bag, I had to do it a bit at a time, so as not to get out of breath.”

Roald Amundsen

Upon reaching the polar plateau
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“"Oh, as usual," they shouted back; "no bottom." I mention this little incident just to show how one can grow accustomed to anything in this world.”

Roald Amundsen

Upon finding yet another obscured and deadly abyss
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

“The holiday humour that ought to have prevailed in the tent that evening — our first on the plateau — did not make its appearance; there was depression and sadness in the air - we had grown so fond of our dogs.”

Roald Amundsen

Upon slaughtering some dogs to feed other dogs and themselves
Sydpolen (The South Pole) (1912)

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