An egg of Columbus or Columbus's egg refers to a brilliant idea or discovery that seems simple or easy after the fact. The expression refers to a popular story of how Christopher Columbus, having been told that discovering the Americas was no great accomplishment, challenged his critics to make an egg stand on its tip. After his challengers gave up, Columbus did it himself by tapping the egg on the table so as to flatten its tip.
The story is often alluded to when discussing creativity. The term has also been used as the trade name of puzzles.
Read more about Egg Of Columbus: Source of The Story, In Popular Culture
Famous quotes containing the words egg of, egg and/or columbus:
“Boredom is the dream bird that hatches the egg of experience. A rustling in the leaves drives him away.”
—Walter Benjamin (1892–1940)
“The egg is back. The egg is back.”
—Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Haitian president. New York Times, p. 10A (September 6, 1994)
“The only history is a mere question of one’s struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander, to do.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)