The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.

Damon Runyon (1880–1946) was an American journalist and short-story writer celebrated for his comic portrayals of Broadway, gamblers, and racetrack life—worlds where chance, hustle, and “inside” wisdom collide. This quip adapts a well-known biblical sentiment (Ecclesiastes 9:11) about the unpredictability of outcomes, then pivots to the pragmatic logic of betting: whatever life’s surprises, wagering typically follows the most probable winner. The line is widely circulated as a Runyonism and fits the voice and ethos of his gambling-inflected writing and reportage, where hard-earned street probability often matters more than moral certainty.

The saying balances two truths. First, it concedes that outcomes are not guaranteed: the fastest runner can stumble, the strongest fighter can lose, luck and circumstance can overturn merit. Second, it insists that rational action still leans on likelihood: if you must stake money, you bet on speed and strength because they correlate with winning more often than not. The humor comes from the abrupt shift from philosophical reflection to gambler’s practicality, turning a meditation on fate into advice about expected value. It captures Runyon’s characteristic blend of fatalism and savvy realism.