--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These people are very unskilled in…" description: "\"These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.\" — Christopher Columbus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg" --- # These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men… ![“These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.” quote by Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg) > “These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.” [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that a small, untrained force can be easily controlled and used for any purpose. **In simple terms:** A tiny, unskilled group can be manipulated. Key Takeaway Recognize the danger of underestimating weak forces. Themes power control military manipulation leadership Mood cautious critical Type historical political When to use this quote - colonial conquest - recruitment of mercenaries - political oppression Key Concepts coercion obedience force multiplication Questions to Reflect On - How does power over a weak group affect moral responsibility? - What safeguards prevent abuse of small forces? A Different Perspective Such control may backfire if the group resists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Unskilled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unskilled/) ## Related quotes > [Private-sector firms are increasingly active in the prison industry and they and the militantly unionized correctional officers, almost all unskilled labor, constantly lead public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-black/private-sector-firms-are-increasingly-active-in-the-prison-industry/) [Conrad Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-black/) > [“The more skill it takes to accomplish a task, the more difficult it is to comprehend the knowledge needed to deal with it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luigina-sgarro/the-more-skill-it-takes-to-accomplish-a-task-the-more-difficult-it-is/) [Luigina Sgarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luigina-sgarro/) > [I'm wildly unskilled at what I do. Part of me thinks: 'Why do I think I can pull this off?' but the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-maguire/i-m-wildly-unskilled-at-what-i-do-part-of-me-thinks-why-do-i-think-i/) [Sean Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-maguire/) > [“He was a regulator first-class, which was another term for metalworker unskilled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/he-was-a-regulator-first-class-which-was-another-term-for-metalworker/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [“Some friends are like sunny days, with false flames, oozing from afar, coming near without a dime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/some-friends-are-like-sunny-days-with-false-flames-oozing-from-afar/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [If you have unskilled people who work poorly together, no amount of process will save your projects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-highsmith/if-you-have-unskilled-people-who-work-poorly-together-no-amount-of/) [Jim Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-highsmith/) > [A lot of young people just starting out unskilled, as all Americans do when they're born here, come to this country, and so the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/a-lot-of-young-people-just-starting-out-unskilled-as-all-americans-do/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [An unskilled middle-aged man can work in the mines, and it pays well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/an-unskilled-middle-aged-man-can-work-in-the-mines-and-it-pays-well/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Alan Greenspan is unskilled; you don't take the unskilled seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/alan-greenspan-is-unskilled-you-don-t-take-the-unskilled-seriously/) [Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/) > [Let the unskilled jobs that take absolutely no knowledge whatsoever to do — let stupid and unskilled Mexicans do that work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/let-the-unskilled-jobs-that-take-absolutely-no-knowledge-whatsoever/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It's estimated that by 2030 there will be virtually no unskilled jobs in the British economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/it-s-estimated-that-by-2030-there-will-be-virtually-no-unskilled-jobs/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [You can be very successful but still struggling financially, and it looked like I'd have to take a year or two off and find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/you-can-be-very-successful-but-still-struggling-financially-and-it/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [no job, no matter how lowly, is truly 'unskilled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/no-job-no-matter-how-lowly-is-truly-unskilled/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [I decided to set out to prove that you could make a reasonable living building for the poor using recycled materials and only hiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-phillips/i-decided-to-set-out-to-prove-that-you-could-make-a-reasonable-living/) [Dan Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-phillips/) > [Don't be condescending to unskilled labor. Try it for a half a day first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooks-atkinson/don-t-be-condescending-to-unskilled-labor-try-it-for-a-half-a-day/) [Brooks Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brooks-atkinson/) ## More by Christopher Columbus > [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [The air soft as that of Seville in April, and so fragrant that it was delicious to breathe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-air-soft-as-that-of-seville-in-april-and-so-fragrant-that-it-was/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [And your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians and Princes, devoted to the holy Christian faith and the propagation thereof - and enemies of the sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-your-highnesses-as-catholic-christians-and-princes-devoted-to-the/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [“The sea will grant each man new hope The sleep brings dreams of home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-sea-will-grant-each-man-new-hope-the-sleep-brings-dreams-of-home/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Your Highnesses have an Other World here, by which our holy faith can be so greatly advanced and from which such great wealth can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/your-highnesses-have-an-other-world-here-by-which-our-holy-faith-can/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/thanks-be-to-god-says-the-admiral-the-air-is-soft-as-in-april-in/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [It is true that after they have been reassured and have lost this fear, they are so artless and so free with all they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/it-is-true-that-after-they-have-been-reassured-and-have-lost-this/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [The Admiral says that he never beheld so fair a thing: trees all along the river, beautiful and green, and different from ours, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/the-admiral-says-that-he-never-beheld-so-fair-a-thing-trees-all-along/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Of this voyage, I observe," says the Admiral, "that it has miraculously been shown, as may be understood by this writing, by the many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/of-this-voyage-i-observe-says-the-admiral-that-it-has-miraculously/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Sailed this day nineteen leagues, and determined to count less than the true number, that the crew might not be dismayed if the voyage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/sailed-this-day-nineteen-leagues-and-determined-to-count-less-than/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [For this purpose I determined to keep an account of the voyage, and to write down punctually every thing we performed or saw from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-this-purpose-i-determined-to-keep-an-account-of-the-voyage-and-to/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [And I say that Your Highnesses ought not to consent that any foreigner does business or sets foot here, except Christian Catholics, since this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-i-say-that-your-highnesses-ought-not-to-consent-that-any/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [It is easy to discover what another has discovered before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/it-is-easy-to-discover-what-another-has-discovered-before/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [As soon as I arrived in the Indies, in the first island which I found, I took some of the natives by force, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/as-soon-as-i-arrived-in-the-indies-in-the-first-island-which-i-found/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/tomorrow-morning-before-we-depart-i-intend-to-land-and-see-what-can/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) [Explore all 72 Christopher Columbus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that one wished.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Christopher Columbus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms-with-50-men-they-could-all-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms-with-50-men-they-could-all-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6a/christopher-columbus-9477_arms_these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms_1705740.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“These people are very unskilled in arms... with 50 men they could all be subjected and made to do all that…” — Christopher Columbus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Christopher Columbus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "These people are very unskilled in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms-with-50-men-they-could-all-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/these-people-are-very-unskilled-in-arms-with-50-men-they-could-all-be/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```