"Christopher Columbus, as everyone knows, is honored by posterity because he was the last to discover America"

This quote by James Joyce is a commentary on the legacy of Christopher Columbus. It recommends that Columbus is remembered and honored by posterity due to the fact that he was the last to find America. This suggests that Columbus was not the very first to find America, but he was the last to do so. This quote also suggests that Columbus' legacy is based upon his status as the last to discover America, rather than any other achievements. This quote is a tip that history is often composed by the victors, and that the legacy of a person can be identified by their place in history. It likewise recommends that the tradition of a person can be identified by their place in history, rather than their real achievements.