Fortune favours the bold

The phrase has been widely used as a slogan in the Western world to emphasize the rewards of courage and bravery, particularly within military organizations, and it is also used up to the present day on the coats of arms of numerous families and clans.

Another version of the proverb, fortes Fortuna adiuvat, 'fortune favours the strong/brave', was used in Terence's 151 BC comedy play Phormio, line 203.

[3] Ovid extends the phrase at I.608 of his didactic work, Ars Amatoria, writing "audentem Forsque Venusque iuvat" or "Venus, like Fortune, favors the bold."

Pliny the Younger quotes his uncle, Pliny the Elder, as using the phrase Fortes fortuna iuvat when deciding to take his fleet and investigate the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, in the hope of helping his friend Pomponianus: "'Fortes' inquit 'fortuna iuvat: Pomponianum pete.'"

"[6][7] The proverb may be a rewording of a line by Democritus that "boldness is the beginning of action, but fortune controls how it ends" (Ancient Greek: Τόλμα πρήξιος αρχή, τύχη δε τέλεος κυρίη, romanized: Tólma préxios arché, túche de téleos kuríe).

The quote "Fortes Fortuna Juvat" is used by the Jydske Dragonregiment, or Jutish Dragoon Regiment, in the Royal Danish Army.

[8] The Latin version of the quote "Fortes fortuna adiuvat" is used as the motto of the 2nd Corps of the 471st Logistics Battalion (Logistikbataillon 471, 2.

[9] The O'Keeffe family motto is “Forti et fideli nihil difficile” which translates as “For the brave and faithful, nothing is difficult”.

[20] The Latin equivalent "Fortuna audentes juvat" is used as the motto for the Turing family, dating back to 1316 AD.

In the 1986 film "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home", Admiral James T. Kirk alters the phrase when setting off on a dangerous mission.

In Episode 12 Season 2 of the anime The Faraway Paladin the spirits of the dwarven warriors chant this as a rallying war cry against the evil dragon Valacirca in support of Will William G. Mary blood and his brave party as they prepare to face off once more.

In 2021, Matt Damon appeared in an advertisement for Crypto.com encouraging investors using the proverb ("Fortune favors the bold") as a slogan.

The advertisement was widely criticized, and it was frequently satirized by the animated series South Park, beginning in its twenty-fifth season.