"Fortune favours the bold", "Fortune favours the brave", "Fortune helps the brave", and "Fortune favours the strong" are common translations of a Latin proverb. The slogan has been used historically in the military in the Anglo-Saxon world, and it is used up to the present in the US Army and on the coats of arms of individual families and clans.
Background
Fortune favors the bold is the translation of a Latin proverb, which exists in several forms with slightly different wording, where Fortuna is the goddess of luck, such as
- audentes Fortuna iuvat (literally: "fortune favors the bold")
- audentes Fortuna adiuvat ("Fortune comes to the aid of those daring")
- Fortuna audaces iuvat (from the adjective audax, audacis, from the verb audeo), literally: "Fortune helps the bold".
- audentis Fortuna iuvat is used by Turnus, the antagonist of Aeneid
These Proverbs in turn descended from Fortes fortuna adiuvat. (literally: "fortune favours the strong") used in Terence's comedy play Phormio, line 203.
Pliny the Younger quotes his uncle, Pliny the Elder as using the phrase when deciding to take his fleet and investigate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, in the hope of helping his friend Pompianus. "‘Fortes’ inquit ‘fortuna iuvat: Pomponianum pete.’" “'Fortune', he said, 'favours the brave: head for Pomponianus.'â€. The expedition cost the elder Pliny his life.
Historical examples
Denmark
The quote "Fortes Fortuna Juvat" is used by the Jydske Dragonregiment, or Jutish Dragoon Regiment, in the Royal Danish Army.
Portugal
The motto for the Portuguese Commandos is "Audaces Fortuna Juvat" (A sorte protege os Audazes).
United Kingdom & Ireland
It is used as the motto for the British Army's Yorkshire Regiment having been previously used by one of the Yorkshire's antecedent regiments, the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding [33rd/76th Foot]).
The Latin version Audentes Fortuna Juvat is the motto of Clan MacKinnon and features on the clan crest.
It is the motto for Clan Turnbull.
It is used as the motto for the O'Flaherty family in Ireland and is also used on their coat of arms.
This is used as the motto for the Dickson family and is presented on their family crest.
The motto Fortuna Audaces Juvat was used by the Clevland family of Tapeley Park, Westleigh, Devon, in the 18th and 19th centuries, as seen with their armorials on several of the family's mural monuments in Westleigh Church.
The phrase was used as the motto of the Royal Air Force station based at East Fortune, in East Lothian. The base was operational in the First World War and between 1940 and 1947.
It is the motto of the Ulster Loyalist terrorist group the Orange Volunteers.
United States
It is the official motto of the United States Coast Guard Academy Class of 1982, which has produced more Coast Guard flag officers than any other class that graduated from the Academy.
"Fortuna Favet Fortibus" (fortune favors the brave) is the official motto of the United States Naval Academy Classes of 1985, 2004, and 2012.
The motto "Fortes Fortuna Juvat" appears on the gates of Honor Hill at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where U.S. Army infantrymen ceremoniously receive the iconic cross rifle insignia.
It has been the motto of several United States Navy ships:
- USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE-7). The motto appears on the ship's insignia.
- USS Florida (SSGN-728), after her conversion from an SSBN to a SSGN.
- USS Montpelier (SSN-765)
- USS John S. McCain (DDG-56)
The Latin equivalent "fortuna audentes juvat" is used as the motto for the Turing family, dating back to 1316 AD.
The motto is used by the 366th Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force and appears on the wing patch. The motto is also used by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, 3rd Field Investigation Region, Detachment 327, Little Rock Air Force Base.
It is the unit motto for 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, stationed out of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
It is the unit motto for 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, stationed out of Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, NC.
The motto is also used on the Seattle Police Department's SWAT unit patch.
The Latin equivalent "fortuna favet audaci" is the motto of Trumbull College of Yale University.
Netherlands
The motto is used by the Cornielje family of The Netherlands alongside their coat of arms.
South Korea
Motto used by the 80th Fighter Squadron stationed at Kunsan AB, Republic of South Korea.
Examples in popular culture
- Fortune Favors the Brave (film)
- Pacific Rim (film) "Fortune favors the brave, dude." - Newton Geiszler
- Gotham (TV show) "Fortune favours the bold."-Oswald Cobblepot
- For Honor "Audentes Fortuna Iuwat!" -The Gladiator
- John Wick John's tattoo includes the phrase.
- Star Trek Enterprise Dedication Plaque of the Columbia (NX-02) motto "Audentes fortuna juvat â€" Fortune favors the bold" â€" Virgil
- Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes "Fortune Favors the Bold" is the name of a special ability that can be used by the Endurance, a Republic Star Destroyer in Star Wars: The Clone Wars
See also
- God helps those who help themselves
- Who Dares Wins
References
External links
- The dictionary definition of fortis Fortuna adiuvat at Wiktionary
