The best advice I ever heard...

Starting to get serious about climbing, but need some advice. What is the best advice anyone ever have you about climbing, improvement, or life in general? 

“When you climb, climb. When you rest, rest.” -Arno Ilgner 

silent feet. This makes you think about your foot placement and become more precise. 

If you're placing 2's you don't need toos... 

In reference to the fact that you have 2 connected to your body and are what we commonly refer to as hands. 

Read rock climbing accident reports so you can learn from other peoples mistakes, or misfortune. 

Often times we get stuck and it is difficult to go higher, sometimes it is because the hands are where the feet need to be.  

It’s all about foot placement. 

Don’t get too hung up on grades. Enjoy the process.

Its easy to climb 30 years and die of old age. What is hard is surviving the first two or three years.

Climb at as many different areas and in as many different styles as possible. Travel to new crags. Climb with a variety of partners. You'll have more fun and learn more by trying new things.

There’s nothing wrong with climbing with other beginners, but seek out climbing partners who are better and smarter than you.  They’ll teach you how to become better technique wise without creating bad habits, and more importantly how to be safe outdoors.  Most climbers I know are pretty chill and would have no problem mentoring a beginning climber.

Nearly everyone you'll talk to online has an intermediate level of skill and knowledge at best. The most prolific posters, the names you recognize as contributing repeatedly to all kinds of threads, tend to be here:

Let that help you value their advice

Trad and alpine climbing requires a long apprenticeship. Serve it greatfully and you may live and climb for a long while.

Climb quiet, and touch your feet and hands just once on each move.

Climb the climb and not the grade.

#1 Grades don't mean shit

#2 Climbing is not going to get you laid

#3 Climbing is intrinsically meaningless. Climb for yourself, not what you want other people to think. Being a good climber does not make you a better person.

I think #3 is becoming more important as the Outdoor Industry and Social Media metastasize their way into our sport more and more

Have fun (that's why most people climb)

technique...technique...technique 

This will help keep you injury free.   Its all about the feet.  

Brian Abram wrote:

Nearly everyone you'll talk to online has an intermediate level of skill and knowledge at best. The most prolific posters, the names you recognize as contributing repeatedly to all kinds of threads, tend to be here:

Let that help you value their advice

I think this theory used Mtn Proj as their main source of data 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

leave an hour earlier than you think

"If you want to climb harder at cracks, stop placing so much gear". Same with sport climbing, after halfway up the pitch, just clip 1 or 2 more draws to get to the chains.

If you’re using a rope, tie into it. If you’re not using a rope, don’t tie into one.

Buy nice, or buy twice.