“Any man who has ever led an army, an expedition, or a group of Boy Scouts has sadism in his bones.”

“Only a man who has his health, a full stomach and wears clean clothes would ever entertain the notion of tracking down the greatest lost city on Earth.”

“Previous experience had taught me that any expedition marches on its stomach.”

“On a harsh expedition, there's no space for anyone who does not intend to finish.”

“Running an expedition can bring out the worst in a man. It can make you a power-crazed monster.”

“The first rule of an expedition is that everyone should stick together.”

“Ours was not going to be a clone of the usual expeditions, oozing with sleekness. It was clear from the start that oddity was our advantage.”