Here the men lost all patience, and complained of the length of the voyage, but the Admiral encouraged them in the best manner he could, representing the profits they were about to acquire, and adding that it was to no purpose to complain, having come so far, they had nothing to do but continue on to the Indies, till with the help of our Lord, they should arrive there.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Columbus reassures his crew to keep going despite complaints, promising profit and eventual arrival.
- In plain terms
- The crew wanted to stop, but he told them to keep going and promised rewards.
- What can you take from it?
- Leaders must manage morale by reminding teams of the ultimate goal.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you keep a team going when things get hard?
- What keeps people committed to a long goal?
Another view
Promising profits was a risk that did not always match reality.
More from Christopher Columbus
'Thanks be to God,' says the Admiral; 'the air is soft as in April in Seville, and it is a pleasure to be in it, so fragrant it is.'
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