Endurance (1959)

Life was reckoned in periods of a few hours, or possibly only a few minutes--an endless succession of trials leading to deliverance from the particular hell of the moment.

No matter what the odds, a man does not pin his last hope for survival on something and then expect that it will fail.

For scientific leadership give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems no way out, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.