Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you – David McCullough Jr.

I came across this nice quote by David McCullough Jr. The quote in totality is:

Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.

David McCullough Jr.

However i will focus on the “Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you” part of the quote.

This quote is very descriptive of our times and our narcissist society, in which people take actions to be seen rather than for the value of the action itself. And this apply to both individuals showing off on social media, and businesses pretending to go green for the sake of eyes rather than heart. David McCullough Jr. is advising you to focus on self-improvement, personal growth, and gaining new experiences, rather than seeking fame, popularity or validation from others.

The statement tell you, that you should pursue personal growth and achievement for the purpose of expanding your own horizons and gaining a new perspective on the world, rather than seeking attention and validation from others.

The act of climbing a mountain is a metaphor for achieving a challenging goal, and the reward for reaching the summit is the opportunity to look out at the world from a higher perspective. The quote suggests that true fulfilment comes from internal satisfaction rather than external recognition.