There were already several versions of “fortune favors the bold,” such as Terence’s and Virgil’s during the ancient period. Louis Pasteur was a French microbiologist who said, “In the fields of observation, chances favors only the prepared mind.” Alternative Ways to Say this Phrase Pliny the Younger quoted Pliny the Elder by saying, “fortune favors the brave” before studying the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This Latin version is translated as “Fortune favors the bold,” Fortune being the personification of luck.įortune favors the bold or brave was also used in other places.

Later on, the Roman poet Virgil worded out the phrase better, saying, “audentes Fortuna iuvat.” Here, Fortuna has a capital F because it is the name of the goddess of luck.

“Fortis fortuna adiuvat” means “fortune helps the brave,” which is far from “favoring” in the sense of preferring a person. Many give credit to Terence for the quote, “fortune favors the brave,” but it’s not the literal English translation of what he wrote. In the first movie entitled John Wick, a few seconds showed his huge tattoo while showering. You might find the Latin quote familiar because it was John Wick’s tattoo on his back. One of the proverbial phrases in Act 1 was “fortis fortuna adiuvat.” “Fortis” or “fortes” stands for “brave,” while “fortuna” means “fortune.” However, “adiuvat” refers to “help” or “aid” rather than “favor.” Terence or Publius Terentius wrote the play entitled Phormio (161 BC). The earliest use of the phrase is during the ancient times when a roman playwright, Terence, used it for his play. These proverbs existed in varying versions yet had similar meanings. The quote, “fortune favors the bold,” is the English version of several Latin proverbs. “Adiuvat” means “helps” or “aids” instead of “favor.” Origin of the Phrase

Virgil is the Roman poet who said the Latin proverb, “audentis fortuna iuvat.” It means “fortune favors the bold.” It is a more precise and literal variation of Terence’s quote, “fortis fortuna adiuvat,” which means fortune favors the brave. Who Said The “Fortune Favors the Bold” Quote?

Fortune favours the brave quotes