Virgil, Aeneid X.284

Melphi speaks

Audentis Fortuna iuvat,

The priest translates

«Fortune helps those who dare,»

And interprets

This is one of the most famous lines of the ancient world, and today it speaks to you. Perhaps you have long been putting off a decision: asking for a raise, putting forward an idea, declaring a feeling, moving to another city. You feel half ready and you are waiting for the perfect moment. Melphi tells you that fortune does not reward those who wait standing still, but those who move. It is the right time to take the first step. One important nuance, though: in the poem the man who says these words says them before a battle that will not go as he hopes. Dare, then, but with your eyes open: courage is a strength, recklessness is a risk.

The historical translations

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