<P> A similar version of this saying "God himself helps those who dare" better translated as "divinity helps those who dare" "audentes deus ipse iuuat" comes from Ovid, Metamorphoses, 10.586 . The phrase is spoken by Hippomenes when contemplating whether to enter a foot race against Atalanta for her hand in marriage . If Hippomenes were to lose, however, he would be killed . Hippomenes decides to challenge Atalanta to a race and, with the aid of Venus, Hippomense was able to win the race . </P> <P> The same concept is found in the fable of Hercules and the Wagoner, first recorded by Babrius in the 1st century AD . In it, a wagon falls into a ravine, or in later versions becomes mired, but when its driver appeals to Hercules for help, he is told to get to work himself . Aesop is also credited with a similar fable about a man who calls on the goddess Athena for help when his ship is wrecked and is advised to try swimming first . It has been conjectured that both stories were created to illustrate an already existing proverb . </P> <P> The French author Jean de La Fontaine also adapted the first of these fables as Le chartier embourbé (Fables VI. 18) and draws the moral Aide - toi, le ciel t'aidera . (Help yourself and Heaven will help you too). A little earlier, George Herbert had included "Help thyself, and God will help thee" in his proverb collection, Jacula Prudentum (1651). But it was the English political theorist Algernon Sidney who originated the now familiar wording, "God helps those who help themselves", apparently the first exact rendering of the phrase . Benjamin Franklin later used it in his Poor Richard's Almanack (1736) and has been widely quoted . </P> <Ul> <Li> A passage with similar sentiments can be found in the Quran, </Li> </Ul>

Bible the lord helps those who help themselves