Who Dares, Wins, Latin: "Qui audet adipiscitur" (French: Qui ose gagne) is a motto that originated with the British Special Air Service. It is normally credited to the founder of the SAS, David Stirling. Among the SAS themselves it is sometimes humorously corrupted to "Who cares who wins?"
The catchphrase "He Who Dares, Wins" was commonly used by Del Boy in British Sitcom Only Fools and Horses.
The motto has been used by ten elite special forces units around the world that in some way have historical ties to the British SAS. In addition, the original quotes origin is 'Τοις τολμώσιν η τύχη ξύμφορος' ( Who Dares Wins) from the Ancient Greek philosopher Thoukidides (Θουκυδίδης, 460-394 π.Χ)
| Nation | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Special Air Service | |
| Australia | Special Air Service Regiment | |
| New Zealand | Special Air Service | |
| Hong Kong | Special Duties Unit | |
| France | 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment | French: 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 1er RPIMa: Former WWII French SAS squadrons (the 3rd & the 4th) |
| Rhodesia | Rhodesian Special Air Service | |
| Greece | 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade | Ο τολμών νικά (pronounced O tolmon nika) |
| Greece | ΛΟΚ (reads as LOK) | Ο τολμών νικά (pronounced O tolmon nika) |
| Cyprus | ΛΟΚ (reads as LOK) | Ο τολμών νικά (pronounced O tolmon nika) |
| Israel | Sayeret Matkal, Shachak Armored Battalion (196th Battalion/460th Armored Brigade) | Hebrew: המעז מנצח. HaMe'ez Menatzeakh |
| Belgium | 1st Parachutist Battalion | Former World War II Belgium SAS squadron (the 5th) |
Famous quotes containing the words dares and/or wins:
“How can any man be weak who dares to be at all?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“You always read about it:
the plumber with twelve children
who wins the Irish Sweepstakes.
From toilets to riches.
That story.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)