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Who Dares Wins (Latin: Qui audet adipiscitur; Greek: Ο Τολμών Νικά, O tolmón niká; French: Qui ose gagne; Italian: Chi osa vince; Portuguese: Quem ousa vence; German: Wer wagt, gewinnt; Dutch: Wie niet waagt, die niet wint; Hebrew: המעז מנצח) is a motto made popular in the English-speaking world by the British Special Air Service.[1]
The German: Wer wagt, gewinnt is attested from at least the 18th century.[2] Slight variations go back further. The same is likely true of other languages.
As the motto of the SAS, it is normally credited to its founder, Sir David Stirling.[3] Among the SAS themselves, it is sometimes humorously corrupted to "Who cares [who] wins?".[4]
The expression appears in a medieval Arabic book of fairy tales, translated and published in 2014.[5]
The catchphrase "He Who Dares Wins" was commonly used by Del Boy in British sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The shortened form "Qui Audet" is also heard on the second episode of Pennyworth.
The motto has been used by twelve elite special forces units around the world that in some way have historical ties to the British SAS.
The phrase is the motto of Baron AlvinghamofWoodfold in the County Palatine of Lancaster, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.[6]
| Nation | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
Special Air Service | The SAS, created during WWII, is the first special forces unit to use the motto |
 France |
1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine or 1er RPIMa) | Heirs to the traditions of the 3rd and 4th squadrons of the WWII SAS whose members were Free French paratroopers. Their motto remains the same as the British one ("Qui ose gagne", meaning "Who dares wins") |
 Belgium |
1st Parachutist Battalion Special Forces Group |
On 21 September 1945 5th SAS was transferred from the British Army to the newly reformed Belgian Army. Renamed the 1st Regiment of Parachutists they served independently as a mobile airborne unit until 1952 when the regiment joined with the Commando Regiment to form a battalion of the Para-Commando Brigade. From 1952 on the traditions of 5th SAS were continued by 1st Parachute Battalion (1 PARA) of the Para-Commando Brigade.
After disbandment of 1 PARA in 2011 the traditions were inherited by the Special Forces Group. |
 Australia |
Special Air Service Regiment | |
 New Zealand |
1st New Zealand Special Air Service Regiment | |
 Tunisia |
Unité Spéciale – Garde Nationale | |
 Rhodesia |
Rhodesian Special Air Service | . 'C Squadron (Rhodesia) Special Air Service' Mil. Abbrev. 'C Sqn SAS'. Later 'Rhodesian Special Air Service Regiment' in Kabrit Barracks, Salisbury (now Harare) |
 Greece |
1st Paratroopers Brigade | Ο Τολμών Νικά (pronounced O tolmon nika) |
 Cyprus |
Special Forces Command | Ο Τολμών Νικά (pronounced O tolmon nika) |
 Israel |
Sayeret Matkal | Hebrew: המעז מנצח. HaMe'ez Menatzeakh |
 Latvia |
Latvian Special Tasks Unit | Latvian: Drošais Uzvar! |
 Oman |
Sultan's Special Force | Arabic: من يتجرأ ينتصر! |
 Serbia |
Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (Serbia) | Serbian: Ко сме, тај може, ко не зна за страх, тај иде напред |
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