Fortune favors the bold
Meaning: Taking risks often leads to rewards.
Origin: The Roman playwright Terence wrote fortes fortuna adiuvat in Phormio (161 BC), and Virgil's Aeneid has audentes fortuna iuvat. Pliny the Younger reports that his uncle, Pliny the Elder, quoted it as he sailed toward the erupting Vesuvius in AD 79 — a voyage from which he did not return.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German
- French: La fortune sourit aux audacieux (literally: Fortune smiles on the bold)
- Spanish: La fortuna favorece a los audaces (literally: Fortune favors the bold)
- Japanese: 運は勇者を好む (Un wa yūsha wo konomu) (literally: Fortune favors the brave)
- German: Wer wagt, gewinnt (literally: He who dares, wins)
More proverbs about Challenge
- Strike while the iron is hot — Act quickly when the opportunity presents itself.
- If you can't beat them, join them — If you can't win against something, align with it.
- You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs — Progress requires sacrifice.
- What doesn't kill you makes you stronger — Adversity builds resilience and character.
- Nothing ventured, nothing gained — You must take risks to achieve rewards.
- Out of the frying pan, into the fire — Escaping one bad situation only to end up in a worse one.
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.