Christopher Columbus Quotes

By prevailing over all obstacles and distractions, one may unfailingly arrive at his chosen goal or destination.

Life has more imagination than We carry in our dreams.

Nothing that results in human progress is achieved with unanimous consent. Those that are enlightened before the others are condemned to pursue that light in spite of the others.

Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World.

It is easy to discover what another has discovered before.

Riches don't make a man rich, they only make him busier.

These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.

For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.

No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.

Gold is a treasure, and he who possesses it does all he wishes to in this world, and succeeds in helping souls into paradise.

I should not proceed by land to the East, as is customary, but by a Westerly route, in which direction we have hitherto no certain evidence that any one has gone.

I saw a boy of the crew purchasing javelins of them with bits of platters and broken glass.

With gold a man can do anything. It even sends souls to paradise.

Your Highnesses have an Other World here, by which our holy faith can be so greatly advanced and from which such great wealth can be drawn.

I'm telling you that India is that way, now set my course.

The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.

It is hoped that by God's assistance, some of the continents in the Ocean will be discovered ... for the Glory of God.

Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood.

Thus the eternal God, our Lord, gives victory to those who follow His way over apparent impossibilities.

Thanks be to God, the air is soft as in April in Seville, and it is a pleasure to be in it, so fragrant it is.

He who has gold makes and accomplishes whatever he wishes in the world and finally uses it to send souls to paradise.

I have come to believe that this is a mighty continent which was hitherto unknown. I am greatly supported in this view by reason of this great river [Ozama], and by this sea which is fresh.

The two Christians met on the way many people who were going to their towns, women and men, with a firebrand in the hand, herbs to drink the smoke thereof, as they are accustomed.

Happiness is not a life without pain, but rather a life in which the pain is traded for a worthy price.

But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding solely in quest of them.

Their houses are all built in the shape of tents, with very high chimneys.

An old man came on board my boat; the others, both men and women cried with loud voices: "Come and see the men who have come from the sky. Bring them victuals and drink."

The crew of the caravel "Nina" also saw signs of land, and a small branch covered with berries. Everyone breathed afresh and rejoiced at these signs.

I found that part of it towards San Salvador extending from north to south five leagues, and the other side which we coasted along, ran from east to west more than ten leagues.

Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined to count less than the true number, that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage should prove long.

For this purpose I determined to keep an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually every thing we performed or saw from day to day, as will hereafter appear.