Imogen said, "When Wolf and I used to go climbing together, he taught me, when you're working at a line of ascent, look for the most hazardous route, the closer to impossible the better. Then resist the temptations to try it if you can.'
'I'm sorry. I don't get that.'

Imogen smiled as if unsurprised.
She said, 'Wolf used to say that rock climbing wasn't about getting to the top, it was about falling.'
'Conquering the fear of falling, you mean?'
Imogen shook her head impatiently.
'Conquering the desire to fall', she said.

Reginald Hill, The Woodcutter, p.306