Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil) quotes
70 – 19 BC · Ancient Rome, 1st century BC · Poet
About Publius Vergilius Maro (Virgil)
Born in 70 BC near Mantua and died in 19 BC at Brundisium, Virgil created Rome’s national epic and excelled in pastoral and didactic poetry. His work blends poetic craft, Roman cultural values and mythic imagination, with lasting influence on Western literature.
Works: Aeneid; Eclogues (Bucolics); Georgics
Quotes
“Fortune favors the bold.”
Source: Aeneid · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The sentiment is securely Virgilian: it appears in the Aeneid and is spoken in the poem by the character Turnus.
- What remains uncertain
- The familiar English wording is a translation/normalization of the Latin and several Latin variants exist in tradition.
Born as a battle cry, the line claims decisive action wins the favor of Fortune. In Virgil it functions as a martial exhortation—invoking the goddess Fortuna—rather than a pop self-help tip. Over time it turned into a compact proverb about taking risks.