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Robert Falcon Scott Quotes

Captain Robert Falcon Scott, was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition . On the first expedition, he set a new southern record by marching to latitude 82°S and discovered the Polar Plateau, on which the South Pole is located. On the second venture, Scott led a party of five which reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, four weeks after Roald Amundsen's Norwegian expedition. On their return journey, Scott's party discovered plant fossils, proving Antarctica was once forested and joined to other continents. A planned meeting with supporting dog teams from the base camp failed, despite Scott's written instructions, and at a distance of 150 miles from their base camp and 11 miles from the next depot, Scott and his companions perished.

Before his appointment to lead the Discovery Expedition, Scott had followed the career of a naval officer in the Royal Navy. In 1899, he had a chance encounter with Sir Clements Markham, the president of the Royal Geographical Society, and thus learned of a planned Antarctic expedition, which he soon volunteered to lead. Having taken this step, his name became inseparably associated with the Antarctic, the field of work to which he remained committed during the final 12 years of his life.

Following the news of his death, Scott became a celebrated hero, a status reflected by memorials erected across the UK. However, in the closing decades of the 20th century, Scott became a figure of controversy, with questions raised about his competence and character. Commentators in the 21st century have regarded Scott more positively after assessing the temperature drop below −40 °C in March 1912, and after re-discovering Scott's written orders of October 1911, in which he had instructed the dog teams to meet and assist him on the return trip.

✵ 6. June 1868 – 29. March 1912
Robert Falcon Scott photo
Robert Falcon Scott: 8   quotes 1   like

Famous Robert Falcon Scott Quotes

“I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 29 March 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/
Context: We arrived within 11 miles of our old One Ton Camp with fuel for one hot meal and food for two days. For four days we have been unable to leave the tent - the gale howling about us. We are weak, writing is difficult, but for my own sake I do not regret this journey, which has shown that Englishmen can endure hardships, help one another, and meet death with as great a fortitude as ever in the past. We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last.

“He said, ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’ He went out into the blizzard and we have not seen him since.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 16 or 17 March 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/
Context: Should this be found I want these facts recorded. Oates’ last thoughts were of his Mother, but immediately before he took pride in thinking that his regiment would be pleased with the bold way in which he met his death. We can testify to his bravery. He has borne intense suffering for weeks without complaint, and to the very last was able and willing to discuss outside subjects. He did not – would not – give up hope to the very end. He was a brave soul. This was the end. He slept through the night before last, hoping not to wake; but he woke in the morning – yesterday. It was blowing a blizzard. He said, ‘I am just going outside and may be some time.’ He went out into the blizzard and we have not seen him since.

“Scott Statue, Christchurch, New Zealand]]For God's sake look after our people.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 29 March 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/, quoted in Scott's Last Expedition (1913) vol.1, ch.20

“The Beardmore Glacier is not difficult in fine weather, but on our return we did not get a single completely fine day; this with a sick companion enormously increased our anxieties.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 29 March 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/

“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, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 29 March 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/; final words, quoted in Scott's Last Expedition (1913) vol.1, ch.20

“I have done this to show what an Englishman can do.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Note found on his corpse; quoted in Bruce Chatwin, What am I Doing Here?

“Great God! this is an awful place and terrible enough for us to have laboured to it without the reward of priority.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Journal, 17 January 1912 http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/diaries/scottslastexpedition/page/7/, quoted in Scott's Last Expedition (1913) vol.1, ch.18

“Make the boy interested in natural history if you can; it is better than games; they encourage it in some schools.”

Robert Falcon Scott

Last letter to his wife, quoted in Scott's Last Expedition (1913) vol.1, ch.20

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