Top 50 Viking Proverbs

Do you know who the Vikings were? Perhaps when you hear this word, you directly relate it to wars and battles. However, the Vikings also wrote proverbs and poems.

In this article we bring you a selection of the 50 best Viking Proverbs. Through them, we can get a little closer to the philosophy of life they had, and know what their fundamental values ​​were.

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Who were the Vikings?

Who were the Vikings? The Vikings belonged to different civilizations and peoples of northern Europe. They were originally from Scandinavia, and they were known especially for their battles, looting and raids across Europe, and because they were also good craftsmen, farmers and merchants.

In addition, although it may seem strange, they also wrote, transmitted and explained storytelling, sayings, proverbs and poems.

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50 great Viking Proverbs (and what they mean)

The list that we bring you of the 50 best Viking Proverbs incorporates proverbs, expressions and phrases of all kinds.

They deal with various topics such as the enjoyment of life, wars, friendship, wisdom, values of the human being... as we will see through them, the Vikings highly valued prudence, honesty and sanity.

Without further delay, we are going to know this list that collects the 50 best Viking Proverbs.

1. “A guest must leave on time and not abuse his welcome; even a friend becomes annoying if he stays too long. "

We all like to disconnect, even from people (no matter how friendly they are).

2. “Do not praise the day until evening has come; do not praise a woman to her pyre; do not praise a sword until you have tasted it; do not praise a maiden until she is married; do not praise the ice until you have crossed it; don't praise the beer until you've drunk it. "

We must know things and people well before we fully trust them.

3. "Who knows how many enemies you have around the table!"

Not everything is always what it seems, and the same is true with friends. Sometimes the people we trust fail us.

4. "The best thing in life is life itself."

Sometimes we insist on looking for "things" to be happy, when in reality life itself is a reason for enjoyment, as well as a privilege.

5. “The best load a man can carry is too much common sense; worst, too much drink. "

The ideal is a middle ground; neither try to be too "correct" or rational, nor constantly improvise.

6. "The crumbs are also bread."

We must value things, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem to us.

7. “A coward thinks that he will live forever if he avoids his enemies; but no man escapes old age, even if he survives spears. "

Everything comes, and there are things that we can never avoid (such as old age and death).

8. "Outside of your home, don't stray an inch from your weapons."

Warrior phrase, which comes to say that "outside" is the danger, and that therefore we must be prepared.

9. "Neither poverty forces anyone to steal nor does wealth prevent it."

Beyond money, our values ​​are what we choose and what define us.

10. "A man of respect must be reserved, thoughtful, and courageous in battle."

Viking proverb that reflects how the ideal Viking should be.

11. "Before entering a place, see where you can exit."

Phrase that he calls for prudence and to be careful in places that we do not know.

12. "If you eat cherries with the mighty you risk the pits raining on your nose."

There are friendships that can be harmful to oneself.

13. “The man honors the friend with affection, he responds to gift with gift. He responds to laughter with laughter and the trick with cheating. "

According to this Viking proverb, what we give to others returns to us in the same way.

14. “There is no better luggage to carry with you than sanity and a clear mind. In distant lands, it is more useful than gold and it gets the poor out of trouble. "

More important than money is good sense.

15. “Live with enthusiasm while you are alive, the agile always comes out ahead. I saw the flames of a mansion, but at the door lay a dead man. "

Phrase that invites you to have enthusiasm and energy in life.

16. "The population was afraid of the Vikings because of their ferocity and cruelty."

The Vikings caused fear in many populations.

17. "If you can find a loyal friend and you want him to be of use to you, open your heart to him, send him gifts and travel often to see him."

Friendships must be cared for so that they last and be worthwhile.

18. “He who always talks and is never silent says many nonsense. The light tongue causes trouble and often belittles the man. "

We must be cautious when speaking, as sometimes we can spout nonsense. "Think before you talk".

19. "A man without friends is like a bare birch, without leaves or bark, lonely on a bare hill."

Having friends is very important to our personal and mental well-being.

20. “The sensible man does not presume to be wise. He walks carefully and tactfully. Quiet and cautious, he goes to the village avoiding entanglements. He does not fail his most faithful ally: the sanity that accompanies him. "

Another Viking proverb that refers to good sense and prudence as values ​​of a Viking.

21. "When you pass through someone else's door, look to the right, look to the left."

Be careful in unknown places, explore the terrain before entering it.

22. "The house of the mocker ends up on fire."

This Viking proverb alludes to karma, "bad" people end up having bad experiences.

23. "Better free bird than captive king."

Phrase that alludes to freedom, and the importance of being free beyond being rich or having power.

24. “Make sure you enjoy every moment and leave a good name behind you. There is nothing better than being alive and happy. "

The Vikings had a very optimistic and positive philosophy of life; With this phrase they allude to “carpe diem” (live in the moment).

25. "Ambition and revenge are always hungry."

These are two emotional states that can cause a lot of suffering, and that have a lot of power over us.

26. "Misfortune also visits the rich, but he does it twice to the poor."

If, in addition to going through bad experiences, you are poor, it is likely that you will have an even worse time (due to lack of resources, for example).

27. “The miserly and ill-born man makes jokes and makes fun of everything. He doesn't realize something more obvious: his own shortcomings. "

There are people who only know how to criticize, when in fact they should focus on their own things and their own shortcomings.

28. “Wise indeed is the traveler who moves through the world. He can sense the prevailing mood by being sensible and sane. "

Traveling enriches us, makes us grow and makes us more sensible.

29. «It is difficult to visit the bad friend even when he catches his way. But it is nice to visit a good friend even when his house is far away. "

We all move on impulse and according to our desires; Thus, even if it costs something, we fight for it if we really want it. On the other hand, when something does not appeal to us, we will not do it even if we have it "easy".

30. "I did not know anyone so rich and noble that he did not like to receive gifts, nor so generous that he did not want to receive anything in return."

We all - or almost all - like to receive gifts, regardless of whether we have money or not.

31. “Beer is not as good as they say. The one who drinks the least reasons and loses his own judgment. "

Another Viking proverb that calls for caution, especially with alcohol.

32. "Before an agreement, take care that one of the parties does not get the sword and the other with the scabbard."

When we negotiate we must be fair and ensure that we are not ripped off.

33. “Fortune dies, family dies, oneself also dies. But there is something that will always remain: the good reputation of the deceased. "

In the end, we all die and the only thing that remains is what we have left in life: our "footprint" and our fame or reputation.

34. “Fire is healthy for all beings, like the rays of the sun king. Blessed is he who maintains health and knows how to live without vices. "

A Viking proverb with a poetic tone; it speaks, once again, of prudence and balance.

35. “A lame man can still ride a horse, a man without hands can still herd sheep, and a deaf man can still kill; it is better to be blind than to burn on the funeral pyre. It is the dead who cannot do anything. "

Phrase that invites you to enjoy life and take advantage of the moments despite difficulties and obstacles.

36. “The sensible man will flee the room if one guest insults another. Mockery and derision tend to annoy if there are hostile men at the table. "

Insults and quarrels do not appeal to sensible people and with two fingers of a forehead.

37. "All men must maintain good humor until the end comes."

Viking proverb that speaks of the importance of being positive and smiling at adversity.

38. "Near the king, near the scaffold."

Ambition and power are good, but in the right measure, since they can end up harming us.

39. "An ignorant man watches every night thinking about everything, he is exhausted at dawn and his misery remains the same."

This phrase comes to tell us that we must take care of things, not just worry about them.

40. "Neither lying wolf gets his cut, nor sleeping man, victory."

Everything takes effort, and people who are naturally lazy achieve nothing.

41. “The ignorant who goes among men, better that he keep quiet. No one will know that you know nothing unless you talk too much. "

Sometimes it is better to be silent (especially when we cannot contribute anything new or interesting).

42. "Keep your dearest friends close, because they will be the ones who will be with you the longest."

Friends must take care of themselves, because the real ones are the ones who will be with us in the most difficult moments.

43. "Stay loyal to the people you love."

As simple as that; This Viking proverb highlights the importance of loyalty.

44. “Be careful who you ask for advice. Seek guidance only from those whom you respect. "

Probably the best advice will be given to us by those we admire and respect.

45. "Bad begets bad."

Malice attracts more Malice.

46. “He try not to covet other people's possessions. He appreciates wealth when he has it and maintains a positive attitude when he doesn't. ”

Although envy is inevitable, it is important to look at what we have and not what others have.

47. "The heart of a sage is seldom cheerful."

This proverb tells us that a wise man is empathetic, and that is why he will also feel pity and compassion for people who suffer.

48. “About his intelligence a man should never brag. He always tries to be sparing in words. "

With this proverb, the Vikings highlighted the importance of humility as a value.

49. "The bold succeed wherever they go."

Boldness is another value that the Vikings highlighted.

50. “Sometimes the quantity exceeds the quality. Even the most skilled swordsman will lose a battle against an army. "

The quality of things is important, but in war, so is quantity (fighting alone is more difficult than with companions).

Bibliographic references

• Jones, G. A (1984) History of the Vikings, New York: Oxford University Press, p. 211.