“Nothing ventured, nothing gained” is the proverb that urges us to take a chance. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its courage.
What Does “Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained” Mean?
The proverb means that you cannot achieve anything worthwhile without taking some risk. If you never dare to try — never put yourself forward, never chance a failure — then you can never win the reward either. It is an encouragement to be bold: to ask, to apply, to take the leap, because the only certain way to gain nothing is to risk nothing at all.
Origin of the Proverb
The idea is old and widespread. A French version — “he who never undertook anything never achieved anything” — was current in the Middle Ages, and Geoffrey Chaucer expressed the same thought in English in the fourteenth century. Over the following centuries the saying settled into its neat modern form, “nothing ventured, nothing gained,” and it has been spurring people to take their chances ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “I wasn’t sure I’d get the grant, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
- “Ask her to dance — nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
- “They risked their savings on the idea; nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
Similar Proverbs
- Fortune favours the bold — luck rewards those who take a chance.
- He who doesn’t take risks never drinks champagne — the Russian version of the same idea.
- Faint heart never won fair lady — timidity wins nothing worth having.
- You miss every shot you don’t take — not trying guarantees failure.
For more sayings about courage and reward, see our motivational proverbs and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “nothing ventured, nothing gained” mean?
It means you cannot achieve anything worthwhile without taking a risk — if you never try, you can never win the reward.
Where does the proverb come from?
The idea is medieval, with a French version current in the Middle Ages and an English form used by Chaucer in the fourteenth century.
What is a similar proverb?
“Fortune favours the bold” and “faint heart never won fair lady” share the same encouragement to take a chance.