But the fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown.
Carl Sagan (1934 - 1996)

America had often been discovered before Columbus, but it had always been hushed up.
Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

If Columbus had an advisory committee he would probably still be at the dock.
Arthur Goldberg (1908 - 1990)

What a pity, when Christopher Columbus discovered America, that he ever mentioned it.
Margot Asquith