--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he reached the New World, Cortés…" description: "\"When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As a result his crew was well-motivated.\" — Sean Connery" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png" --- # When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As… ![“When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As a result his crew was well-motivated.” quote by Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png) > “When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As a result his crew was well-motivated.” [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cortés destroyed his own ships to force his men to commit fully, eliminating the option of retreat. **In simple terms:** Burning ships forces commitment. Key Takeaway Eliminate escape routes to boost resolve. Themes leadership commitment motivation Mood determined intense Type historical motivational When to use this quote - military campaigns - business startups - team building - personal challenges Key Concepts psychology of commitment strategic sacrifice Questions to Reflect On - What would you sacrifice to ensure focus? - How does removing safety nets affect morale? A Different Perspective May create panic or resentment if not managed carefully. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [New world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-world/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [I've framed houses, worked on an asphalt crew, I was a cop, a lifeguard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forrest-griffin/i-ve-framed-houses-worked-on-an-asphalt-crew-i-was-a-cop-a-lifeguard/) [Forrest Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forrest-griffin/) > [If you want to know how to handle a crew, it's great to be part of a crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/if-you-want-to-know-how-to-handle-a-crew-it-s-great-to-be-part-of-a/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I understand the relationships between the crew chiefs and the engineering or between fabrication and the body shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltrip/i-understand-the-relationships-between-the-crew-chiefs-and-the/) [Michael Waltrip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltrip/) > [I climbed down the outside of a Holiday Inn once just to surprise one of my crew by getting on his balcony and knocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy-kilmister/i-climbed-down-the-outside-of-a-holiday-inn-once-just-to-surprise-one/) [Lemmy Kilmister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy-kilmister/) > [I shopped at J. Crew in high school, I studied computer science. I was a nerd-nerd, now I'm a music-nerd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayer-hawthorne/i-shopped-at-j-crew-in-high-school-i-studied-computer-science-i-was-a/) [Mayer Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayer-hawthorne/) > [“Papa was right, after all. A ship's crew was like a family, and together we had done what we never could have managed alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-vogel-frederick/papa-was-right-after-all-a-ship-s-crew-was-like-a-family-and-together/) [Heather Vogel Frederick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-vogel-frederick/) > [To this day I over prepare. I draw storyboards for every scene - chicken scratches so crude that they amuse and horrify the crew.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-stoltz/to-this-day-i-over-prepare-i-draw-storyboards-for-every-scene-chicken/) [Eric Stoltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-stoltz/) > [I've met Christians everywhere I go. I've met Christians on every set I've been on, in the crew, the cast, everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-drew/i-ve-met-christians-everywhere-i-go-i-ve-met-christians-on-every-set/) [Sarah Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-drew/) > [Instead of the 1997 film directed, written, by James Cameron with Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane creating a love story and a large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-baker/instead-of-the-1997-film-directed-written-by-james-cameron-with/) [Tom Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-baker/) > [I used to feel so shy speaking to girls. It was even worse when they were around their crew because they would diss me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/i-used-to-feel-so-shy-speaking-to-girls-it-was-even-worse-when-they/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Musicians are, by and large, not the most politically savvy crew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/musicians-are-by-and-large-not-the-most-politically-savvy-crew/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/) [Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/) > [I was focused on The Hunger Games movie with my director, with the studio, and with the cast and crew. We all just focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-jacobson/i-was-focused-on-the-hunger-games-movie-with-my-director-with-the/) [Nina Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-jacobson/) > [ Quentin \[Taranino\] will say, "We've got it, but we're gonna do it one more time. Why?" And then, the entire cast and crew chimes… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walton-goggins/quentin-taranino-will-say-we-ve-got-it-but-we-re-gonna-do-it-one-more/) [Walton Goggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walton-goggins/) ## More by Sean Connery > [I've always been hopeful about Scotland's prospects. And I now believe more than ever that Scotland is within touching distance of achieving independence and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-ve-always-been-hopeful-about-scotland-s-prospects-and-i-now-believe/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I'm fed up with the idiots... the ever-widening gap between people who know how to make movies and the people who green-light the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-fed-up-with-the-idiots-the-ever-widening-gap-between-people-who/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I am not an Englishman, I was never an Englishman, and I don't ever want to be one. I am a Scotsman! I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-am-not-an-englishman-i-was-never-an-englishman-and-i-don-t-ever/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I like women. I don't understand them, but I like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-like-women-i-don-t-understand-them-but-i-like-them/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [There's one major difference between James Bond and me. He is able to sort out problems!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/there-s-one-major-difference-between-james-bond-and-me-he-is-able-to/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [My view is that to get anywhere in life you have to be anti-social, otherwise you'll end up being devoured. I've never been particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/my-view-is-that-to-get-anywhere-in-life-you-have-to-be-anti-social/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [Your background and environment is with you for life. No question about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/your-background-and-environment-is-with-you-for-life-no-question/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [Sometimes a woman just needs to be slapped.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/sometimes-a-woman-just-needs-to-be-slapped/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [If you have to resort to violence, you've already lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/if-you-have-to-resort-to-violence-you-ve-already-lost/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I'm an actor - it's not brain surgery. If I do my job right, people won't ask for their money back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-m-an-actor-it-s-not-brain-surgery-if-i-do-my-job-right-people-won-t/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [If anything could have pulled me out of retirement, it would have been an Indiana Jones film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/if-anything-could-have-pulled-me-out-of-retirement-it-would-have-been/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [“A book fell on my head. I can only blame my shelf.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/a-book-fell-on-my-head-i-can-only-blame-my-shelf/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [There is nothing like a challenge to bring out the best in man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/there-is-nothing-like-a-challenge-to-bring-out-the-best-in-man/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I've never kept a record of anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-ve-never-kept-a-record-of-anything/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) > [I unfortunately don't speak French, but my wife is now fluent in English, which really reflects rather badly on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/i-unfortunately-don-t-speak-french-but-my-wife-is-now-fluent-in/) [Sean Connery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) [Explore all 100 Sean Connery quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/) ## More Burned quotes > [“my stomach turned and burned with the acid of failure”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-ames/my-stomach-turned-and-burned-with-the-acid-of-failure/) Heidi Ames > [These mercenaries, I swear by God, those who are still in Washington, they have sent their troops to be burned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/these-mercenaries-i-swear-by-god-those-who-are-still-in-washington/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Men feared witches and burned women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-d-brandeis/men-feared-witches-and-burned-women/) [Louis D. Brandeis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-d-brandeis/) > [“I knew I didn't have much of a chance of getting away from that swarm of fae piranha, but it was an infinitely larger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-much-of-a-chance-of-getting-away-from-that-swarm/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [Truth is error burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/truth-is-error-burned-up/) [Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) > [I know I have I have sliced , burned ,bruised wriped at](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slowly-fading/i-know-i-have-i-have-sliced-burned-bruised-wriped-at/) Slowly\_fading > [years ago we would have been burned for this. Now what I am suggesting is that we've advanced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/years-ago-we-would-have-been-burned-for-this-now-what-i-am-suggesting/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [The life of men and women is so cheap and property is so sacred. There are so many of us for one job it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-schneiderman/the-life-of-men-and-women-is-so-cheap-and-property-is-so-sacred-there/) [Rose Schneiderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-schneiderman/) > [Promoting the use of sustainable and renewable rainforest products can help to stop rainforest devastation. The rainforests are much more valuable alive than cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kilham/promoting-the-use-of-sustainable-and-renewable-rainforest-products/) [Chris Kilham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kilham/) > [I would be a traitor to these poor burned bodies if I came here to talk good fellowship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-schneiderman/i-would-be-a-traitor-to-these-poor-burned-bodies-if-i-came-here-to/) [Rose Schneiderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-schneiderman/) > [I checked out all types of tobacco trying to find one that would be easiest to live with, I ended up using pipe tobacco.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-strathairn/i-checked-out-all-types-of-tobacco-trying-to-find-one-that-would-be/) [David Strathairn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-strathairn/) > [“Looks delicious," he lied. "A mite crispy along the edges - but then, I like it that way." Incredulous eyes met his own. "You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/looks-delicious-he-lied-a-mite-crispy-along-the-edges-but-then-i-like/) [Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/) > [Most calves used by the dairy industry have their horns BURNED or GOUGED out of their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-affleck/most-calves-used-by-the-dairy-industry-have-their-horns-burned-or/) [Casey Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-affleck/) > [ \[General Curtis\] LeMay recognized that what he was doing would be thought immoral if his side has lost. But what makes it immoral if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mcnamara/general-curtis-lemay-recognized-that-what-he-was-doing-would-be/) [Robert McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mcnamara/) > [If you are burned, you are naturally anxious to see what your face looks like as soon as they take the bandages off. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-carreras/if-you-are-burned-you-are-naturally-anxious-to-see-what-your-face/) [Jose Carreras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-carreras/) Browse all 1,079 Burned quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As a result his crew was well-motivated.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sean Connery" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-burned-his-ships-as-a-result-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Burned" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-burned-his-ships-as-a-result-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5a2/sean-connery-5501_burned_when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-bur_1601114.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he reached the New World, Cortés burned his ships. As a result his crew was well-motivated.” — Sean Connery", "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": "Sean Connery", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-connery/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When he reached the New World,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-burned-his-ships-as-a-result-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-connery/when-he-reached-the-new-world-cort-s-burned-his-ships-as-a-result-his/#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 } } ] } ```