Vasco da Gama

Sea route to India

Early Modern influential 94 sayings

Sayings by Vasco da Gama

The spices are worth more than gold.

1499 — Highlighting the immense economic value of his discoveries.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I will not suffer any insult to my king or my country.

1498 — A proud and defiant statement of his national loyalty.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Let us burn their ships and seize their goods!

1502 — A harsh and aggressive command during his later punitive expeditions in India.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I am the Admiral of the Indies, and I demand respect.

1499 — Asserting his authority and newly acquired title.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The Cape of Good Hope is a truly formidable place.

1497 — A recognition of the treacherous nature of the southern tip of Africa.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We must be firm with these infidels.

1502 — Reflecting his hardline stance against non-Christians.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

My men are dying, and I cannot bear it.

1497 — A rare glimpse into his emotional struggles, showing concern for his crew.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I will return to India, and I will make them pay.

1499 — A vengeful promise after his first difficult voyage and perceived insults.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The King of Portugal is a powerful monarch.

1498 — A statement meant to impress and intimidate foreign rulers.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

No man has ever sailed this far south.

1497 — A boast of his navigational achievement, pushing the boundaries of known exploration.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Let us build a fortress here to protect our trade.

1502 — A strategic vision for establishing Portuguese power in the East.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I care not for their customs, only for their trade.

1498 — A pragmatic, perhaps dismissive, attitude towards local cultures.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We must show them the power of Portugal.

1502 — A declaration of intent to assert Portuguese dominance.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The sea is my home, and my destiny.

1497 — A poetic statement reflecting his life's path as a mariner.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I will bring back a cargo that will make all of Europe marvel.

1497 — A promise of the immense wealth he expected to acquire.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

Let no one stand in our way, for we are on a divine mission.

1497 — Justifying his actions with religious fervor.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

These strange lands hold many secrets.

1497 — Expressing a sense of wonder and curiosity about the unknown.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

I would rather face the storms than the shame of failure.

1497 — A statement highlighting his fear of failure over physical danger.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

We must plant the cross wherever we go.

1497 — Emphasizing the religious aspect of Portuguese expansion.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable

The natives are simple folk, easily swayed.

1498 — A condescending view of indigenous populations.
Strange & Unusual Unverifiable