In Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield (Le Bouclier Arverne), René Goscinny includes a short but memorable Latin phrase: Audaces fortuna juvat. Even without knowing Latin, most readers recognize its meaning: “Fortune favors the bold.” It is a line that perfectly matches the spirit of Asterix and his fellow Gauls, whose success often depends on bold, decisive action.
What Does the Phrase Mean?
The meaning of Audaces fortuna juvat is straightforward, but its nuance is worth a closer look. The word audaces refers to people who are bold in character—daring, spirited, and sometimes even a little reckless. This is not just bravery in the face of danger, but a willingness to act with confidence and initiative.
The verb juvat means “helps” or “favors.” In classical Latin, the same word is often written as iuvat, using an “i” instead of a “j.” The pronunciation and meaning are identical; the difference is simply a matter of historical spelling conventions (the “j” was introduced much later to distinguish the sound). Since Goscinny uses juvat, that is the form we retain here.
The Dutch Translation and Virgil’s Version
While the French original, along with the English and other translations I checked, uses Audaces fortuna juvat, the original Dutch translator opted for a slightly different version: Audentes fortuna juvat. This is probably not a mistake, but a deliberate choice that reflects the most famous classical source of the phrase.
In the Aeneid by Virgil, the line appears as Audentes fortuna iuvat. Here, the emphasis shifts subtly. Rather than describing “the bold” as a type of person (a noun), audentes is a participle referring to “those who are daring,” placing the focus on the immediate act of taking initiative.
The difference is small but meaningful: Goscinny’s audaces highlights boldness as a trait, while the Virgilian audentes emphasizes daring as an action. In the newer Dutch translations the translator stepped in line with the others again. But this time using iuvat instead of juvat.
A Historical Variation: Pliny the Elder
A related version of the phrase appears in a historical account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. In a letter by Pliny the Younger, his uncle, Pliny the Elder, is said to have declared “Fortes fortuna iuvat” as he set out toward the unfolding disaster.
This variation replaces “boldness” with “strength” or “bravery.” The word fortes conveys a more heroic and noble kind of courage, without the slightly reckless edge that audaces can carry. The meaning remains close—fortune favors those who act—but the tone becomes more dignified and perhaps a bit more tragic given Pliny’s fate.
One Phrase, Many Shades of Meaning
Across its different forms—audaces, audentes, and fortes—the phrase “fortune favors the bold” remains remarkably consistent. Yet each variation reveals a slightly different perspective on what it means to act in the face of uncertainty.
In Le Bouclier Arverne, Goscinny’s choice of audaces adds a subtle but fitting nuance, reminding us that in the world of Asterix, it is often spirited boldness that wins the day.
Vade Retro
The speech bubble starts with another Latin phrase, as you might have noticed. Simply put, Vade retro is Latin for “Go back” or “Step back.” In modern English, we almost always see it as part of the full phrase: “Vade retro Satana” (Step back, Satan).
The phrase is rooted in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Mark (8:33), Jesus rebukes Peter, who is trying to dissuade him from his path toward the crucifixion. In the Latin Vulgate bible, the verse reads:
Qui conversus et videns discipulos suos, comminatus est Petro, dicens: Vade retro me, Satana: quoniam non sapis quæ Dei sunt, sed quæ sunt hominum.
Translation: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
In Asterix and the Chieftain’s Shield (Le Bouclier Arverne), René Goscinny includes a short but memorable Latin phrase: Audaces fortuna juvat. Even without knowing Latin, most readers recognize its meaning: “Fortune favors the bold.” It is a line that perfectly matches the spirit of Asterix and his fellow Gauls, whose success often depends on bold, decisive action.
What Does the Phrase Mean?
The meaning of Audaces fortuna juvat is straightforward, but its nuance is worth a closer look. The word audaces refers to people who are bold in character—daring, spirited, and sometimes even a little reckless. This is not just bravery in the face of danger, but a willingness to act with confidence and initiative.
The verb juvat means “helps” or “favors.” In classical Latin, the same word is often written as iuvat, using an “i” instead of a “j.” The pronunciation and meaning are identical; the difference is simply a matter of historical spelling conventions (the “j” was introduced much later to distinguish the sound). Since Goscinny uses juvat, that is the form we retain here.
The Dutch Translation and Virgil’s Version
While the French original, along with the English and other translations I checked, uses Audaces fortuna juvat, the original Dutch translator opted for a slightly different version: Audentes fortuna juvat. This is probably not a mistake, but a deliberate choice that reflects the most famous classical source of the phrase.
In the Aeneid by Virgil, the line appears as Audentes fortuna iuvat. Here, the emphasis shifts subtly. Rather than describing “the bold” as a type of person (a noun), audentes is a participle referring to “those who are daring,” placing the focus on the immediate act of taking initiative.
The difference is small but meaningful: Goscinny’s audaces highlights boldness as a trait, while the Virgilian audentes emphasizes daring as an action. In the newer Dutch translations the translator stepped in line with the others again. But this time using iuvat instead of juvat.
A Historical Variation: Pliny the Elder
A related version of the phrase appears in a historical account of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. In a letter by Pliny the Younger, his uncle, Pliny the Elder, is said to have declared “Fortes fortuna iuvat” as he set out toward the unfolding disaster.
This variation replaces “boldness” with “strength” or “bravery.” The word fortes conveys a more heroic and noble kind of courage, without the slightly reckless edge that audaces can carry. The meaning remains close—fortune favors those who act—but the tone becomes more dignified and perhaps a bit more tragic given Pliny’s fate.
One Phrase, Many Shades of Meaning
Across its different forms—audaces, audentes, and fortes—the phrase “fortune favors the bold” remains remarkably consistent. Yet each variation reveals a slightly different perspective on what it means to act in the face of uncertainty.
In Le Bouclier Arverne, Goscinny’s choice of audaces adds a subtle but fitting nuance, reminding us that in the world of Asterix, it is often spirited boldness that wins the day.
Vade Retro
The speech bubble starts with another Latin phrase, as you might have noticed. Simply put, Vade retro is Latin for “Go back” or “Step back.” In modern English, we almost always see it as part of the full phrase: “Vade retro Satana” (Step back, Satan).
The phrase is rooted in the New Testament. In the Gospel of Mark (8:33), Jesus rebukes Peter, who is trying to dissuade him from his path toward the crucifixion. In the Latin Vulgate bible, the verse reads:
Qui conversus et videns discipulos suos, comminatus est Petro, dicens: Vade retro me, Satana: quoniam non sapis quæ Dei sunt, sed quæ sunt hominum.
Translation: “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”