A few summers ago, I started out to scale a peak in the Austrian Alps called the Wilder Kaiser. Baedaker said that the ascent was difficult, and a guide was essential for amateur climbers. A friend and I had none, and we were certainly amateurs; so a third party asked us if we thought we were going to succeed. “Of course,” we replied. “What makes you think so?” he inquired. “Others have done it without guides,” I said, “so I know it is within reason, and I never undertake anything thinking defeat.” That is the proper psychology for anything from speaking to an assault on Mt. Everest.
