It is from Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, specifically during the diplomatic mission to Earth by the rebelling moon inhabitants. Mannie says...
Next few weeks I repeated that in a dozen countries, always in private and with implication that it was secret. All that changed was name of mountain. In Ecuador I pointed out that Chimborazo was almost on equator — ideal! But in Argentina I emphasized that their Aconcagua was highest peak in Western Hemisphere. In Bolivia I noted that Altoplano was as high as Tibetan Plateau (almost true), much nearer equator, and offered a wide choice of sites for easy construction leading up to peaks comparable to any on Terra.
I talked to a North American who was a political opponent of that choom who had called us “rabble.” I pointed out that, while Mount McKinley was comparable to anything in Asia or South America, there was much to be said for Mauna Loa — extreme ease of construction. Doubling gees to make it short enough to fit, and Hawaii would be Spaceport of World…whole world, for we talked about day when Mars would be exploited and freight for three (possibly four) planets would channel through their “Big Island.”
Never mentioned Mauna Loa’s volcanic nature; instead I noted that location permitted an aborted load to splash harmlessly in Pacific Ocean.
In Sovunion was only one peak discussed — Lenin, over thousand meters (and rather too close to their big neighbor).
Kilimanjaro, Popocatepetl, Logan, El Libertado — my favorite peak changed by country; all that we required was that it be “highest mountain” in hearts of locals. I found something to say about modest mountains of Chad when we were entertained there and rationalized so well I almost believed it.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - Robert Heinlein
