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Why do we say "Fortune favors the brave"?

Well-Known Expressions

Fortune favors the brave

Meaning:

People who act decisively make their own fate.

Background:

The first recorded use of this expression, or close variations of it, are from Roman times - in the writings of Ennius (239-169 BCE), Terence (190-159 BCE), Virgil (70-19 BCE) and Pliny the Elder (23-79 CE). For example in the Aeneis, Virgil writes Audaces fortuna iuvat (luck helps those who are brave).

Other common forms include fortune favors the bold, fortune favors the daring and fortune favors the brave and the foolish.

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