The last comers are often the masters.
The last comers are often the masters.
Meaning in plain English
People who arrive later can come to hold authority over those already present. Consider how power changed rather than assuming arrival order determines a permanent place.
Example
Long-standing volunteers discuss the responsibilities of a recently appointed coordinator rather than assuming that seniority alone should decide the role.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The last comers become masters in the saying’s observation. A group’s original order may change when new people bring resources, skills or influence, or when arrangements are revised. That shift can feel surprising to established members. Ask how authority was assigned and what responsibilities accompany it. Neither long membership nor recent arrival automatically establishes a fair claim to lead. The word often describes a tendency, not a rule that every newcomer intends to dominate or that older members should resist all changes in leadership.
When to use it
Use it to examine a change in authority within an established group.
Keep in mind
Do not treat newcomers as threats or assume an appointment is unfair simply because the appointee arrived later.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs (1857)
Printed page 34; French section, paragraph 678; source wording: Les derniers venus sont souvent les maîtres.
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗