Vol. 06 · Misquoted ·Book ·83 of 348
"Fortune favours the bold."
They never said that.
What people say
"Fortune favours the bold."
What was actually said
"Audentes fortuna iuvat." Turnus — Virgil, Aeneid X.284 (c. 19 BCE)
Why it stuck
Translations drift between "bold," "brave," and "strong." Virgil's Latin is more military than motivational — Turnus is rallying a charge, not giving a TED talk.
Know another line by heart?
Play the duel and see how many you can spot. Or browse the whole shelf.