APAD: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

(complicated) Etymology
Attested since 1546 in a book of English proverbs by John Heywood. Perhaps translated from or influenced by French Qui onques rien n'enprist riens n'achieva (“One who never undertook anything never gained anything”). Though a translation, a similar phrase of "Nothing ventured, nothing have." appears in Sir George Dasent's translation of the Icelandic text "The Saga of the Burnt Njal" (events occurring between 960 and 1020 A.D.), suggesting it may have gone back much further. However, certain translations of Herodotus 7.9 include "if nothing is ventured in life, then nothing is gained". Suggesting either the phrase or something similar stretches to even before 960AD.

(simple) Meaning：
If one takes no risks, one will not gain any benefits.

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I don't think I'm a risk-taker.  But looking back, I've taken so many risks in life, some small, some not.  One example was jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool before I could float (ok, I was forced). 

 

What were yours? 

 

所有跟帖： 

• 嗯，這句聽起來就正規， no pain no gain就很隨意 -移花接木- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 07:46:37

• 是的，dear Google did mention that, too. ;-) Thx! -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:49:52

• I once ran, tumbled, and crashed down a river bluff. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:12:21

• Ventured limbs, gained torn trousers. Not a smart trade :-)) -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:14:36

• You’ll be careful next time you encounter danger, right? -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:31:23

• Once we suffer a loss, we gain wisdom. ：）） -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:33:50

• Some have a proclivity, a craving, to run down slopes. There -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:47:37

• must be a word for it. -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:47:54

• 那是對自由的向往。“奔跑吧，兄弟“。 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 18:01:51

• 國內某娛樂節目 -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 18:02:46

• hahaha (oops, I shouldn't laugh ;-). I'm sure U've gained -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:55:36

• more respect towards river bluffs since ;-) -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:56:08

• Yes! 15 yrs later, I learned how to run up/down steep slopes -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 10:00:28

• 像是英文的文言版。學習了～～ -盈盈一笑間- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:23:18

• 謝謝盈盈。我也是學到的哈。活到何時學到何時 ；-） -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:48:05

• 富貴險中求 -方外居士- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:53:17

• 想起了富貴少爺。龍二公審槍斃後：好險啊 :-))) -7grizzly- ♂ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 09:58:57

• 謝譯文。接你下文：“富貴險中求，也在險中丟，求時十之一，丟時十之九”。求之不易，不易哈 ；-） -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 10:02:09

• 不入虎穴，焉得虎子！學習了，謝謝西島分享。 -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 10:04:07

• 謝謝小西美眉！ -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 10:06:36

• 哈哈哈，突然意識到我們是本家啊，小西和西島，握手握手！ -CBA7- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 10:27:13

• Now I know why I still don't know how to swim.：） -妖妖靈- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 11:17:03

• Hahaha. Come with me, I will show U how to jump ;-) -最西邊的島上- ♀ (0 bytes) () 02/27/2024 postreply 11:19:20