Fortuna caeca est
“Fortune is blind.”
Cicero, De amicitia 54
What does “Fortuna caeca est” mean?
Fortuna caeca est translates as “Fortune is blind.”
Luck does not look at merit, so success and failure are not always deserved. Cicero adds that fortune often blinds the people she favors.
“Fortuna caeca est” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Fortuna | Fortune, luck | nominative singular feminine (subject) of fortuna, “fortune”; in Roman thought also the goddess Fortuna |
| caeca | blind | nominative singular feminine adjective of caecus, “blind”; agrees with Fortuna |
| est | is | third person singular present indicative active of sum, “I am”; links Fortuna and caeca |
How to pronounce “Fortuna caeca est”
The difference is in caeca: Classical gives ae as “eye” and c as k, Church gives eh and ch. Fortuna is stressed on the second syllable (-TU-) in both.
The story behind it
Word for word the line says “Fortune is blind”: luck cannot see who deserves what, so it rewards and punishes without regard to merit.
The wording comes from Cicero’s dialogue On Friendship (De amicitia 54), written in 44 BC. Cicero says that Fortune is not only blind herself but also usually makes blind those she favors, since success so often clouds the judgment of the lucky.
Fortune was worshipped as a goddess in Rome and was often shown with a wheel or a rudder. The blindfolded figure of Lady Fortune that later became familiar in medieval and Renaissance art grew out of the idea that she acts without looking. The phrase survives in many languages.
How to use “Fortuna caeca est”
Suits a reflection on luck and merit in an essay or speech, a wry caption about an unlikely win or loss, or a game-night invitation where chance decides the result. As a tattoo it reads as a statement about fate rather than a boast.
- Latin
- Fortuna caeca est
- English
- Fortune is blind.
- Source
- Cicero, De amicitia 54
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Fortune
Common mistakes
- The line is not a bare saying: in Cicero it continues, “but she also usually makes those she favors blind”, so quoting only the first three words drops half his point.
- Fortuna is feminine, so the adjective must be feminine too. Changing the subject, for example to a man, means changing the ending (caecus, not caeca).
- Fortuna does not mean “fortune” in the sense of money. It means chance or luck, good or bad.
- Spelling errors such as “ceca” or “cæca” appear often. The standard form is caeca, with ae.
Questions about “Fortuna caeca est”
What does “Fortuna caeca est” mean literally?
“Fortune is blind.” It says that luck does not see or judge who deserves success or failure.
Who said “Fortuna caeca est”?
It comes from Cicero’s De amicitia (On Friendship), section 54, written in 44 BC. There it is a longer sentence, not a standalone proverb.
How do you pronounce “Fortuna caeca est”?
Classical: for-TOO-nah KY-kah est. Church Latin: for-TOO-nah CHEH-kah est. The stress falls on -TU- in both.
Is “Fortuna caeca est” correct Latin for a tattoo?
Yes. Fortuna and caeca are both nominative singular feminine, and est is the correct verb. Only change the ending of caeca if the subject changes.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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