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:
“In the early forties and fifties almost everybody “had about enough to live on,” and young ladies dressed well on a hundred dollars a year. The daughters of the richest man in Boston were dressed with scrupulous plainness, and the wife and mother owned one brocade, which did service for several years. Display was considered vulgar. Now, alas! only Queen Victoria dares to go shabby.”
—M. E. W. Sherwood (1826–1903)
“I saw my lady weep,
And Sorrow proud to be advanced so
In those fair eyes where all perfections keep.
Her face was full of woe;
But such a woe, believe me, as wins more hearts
Than Mirth can do with her enticing parts.”
—Unknown. I Saw My Lady Weep (l. 1–6)