
“Fortune favours the brave.”
Fortes Fortuna iuvat.
Attributed by Pliny the Younger to his uncle during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in which the Elder died
Quoted in [Pliny, translated by William Melmoth, Letters of Pliny, c.100 CE, eBook, 1927, Bibliobytes, Hoboken, NJ, English, ISBN 0585049971, LXV, to Tacitus http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2811/2811-h/2811-h.htm#link2H_4_0065, p. 48, Here he stopped to consider whether he should turn back again; to which the pilot advising him, "Fortune", said he, "favours the brave; steer to where Pomponianus is."]
Commonly quoted as "Fortune favours the bold".