Who said "Fortune favors the bold"?
Quick answer
“Fortune favors the bold” is an ancient Roman proverb, not one person’s invention. Early versions appear in the comedy Phormio by the playwright Terence (161 BC), as fortes fortuna adiuvat, and in Virgil’s Aeneid, as audentes fortuna iuvat.
Where it comes from
| Source | Latin | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Terence, Phormio (161 BC) | Fortes fortuna adiuvat | A character urges courage in a comic plot |
| Virgil, Aeneid (19 BC) | Audentes fortuna iuvat | Spoken by the warrior Turnus before battle |
| Pliny the Elder (AD 79) | Fortes fortuna iuvat | According to his nephew, Pliny the Younger, he said it while sailing toward Vesuvius to help people and observe the eruption; he died there |
The idea was clearly a common saying in Rome, which is why it shows up in several writers.
What it means
Luck tends to help people who take brave action. Those who wait for perfect conditions often miss chances; those who act with courage put themselves in a position where good fortune can reach them. It’s a call to boldness, though not to recklessness.
Spelling: favors or favours?
Both are correct. “Favors” is American spelling; “favours” is British. The meaning is the same.
Famous modern uses
- A motto for many military units, ships and schools
- Quoted by generals, athletes and business leaders
- A line in films and video games, often before a daring move
- Used, controversially, in a 2021 cryptocurrency advert
Similar sayings
- “Who dares wins.” (motto of Britain’s SAS)
- “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
- “God helps those who help themselves.”
For other famous lines and where they come from, see who said “Well done is better than well said” and who said “Imagination is more important than knowledge”.
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