50 VIKING QUOTES!

THE OLD NORSE WHERE WISE.

Sögumál

Wisdom inspired by and from the Icelandic Sagas


1. A man's own hand is most to be trusted. (VGS, c.4)
2. Let another's wounds be your warning. (Njal's Saga, c.37)
3. Slow and sure. (Njal's Saga, c.44)
4. Ill rede bring ill luck. (Njal's Saga, c.45)
5. His hands are clean who warns another. (Njal's Saga, c.41)
6. It is the turn of mind of all men first to give away what has been stolen, if they have it in their keeping. (Njal's Saga, c.49)
7. Birds of a feather flock most together. (Njal's Saga, c.51)
8. Never break the peace which good and true men make between you and others. (Njal's Saga, c.55)
9. For with law shall our land be built up and settled, and with lawlessness wasted and spoiled. (Njal's Saga, c.69)
10. When ill seed has been sown, so an ill crop will spring from it. (Njal's Saga, c.114)
11. But a short while is hand fain of blow. (Njal's Saga, c.133)
12. It may often be that those live long who are slain with words alone. (Njal's Saga, c.45)
13. Better is one crow in the hand than two in the wood. (Laxdaela Saga, c.24)
14. Never cheat your master. (Njal's Saga, c.86)
15. Be warned by another's woe. (Njal's Saga,c.13)
16. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (Njal's Saga, c.5) (HR, c.10, BH)
17. Pride and wrong often end badly. (VGS, c.7)
18. The nights of blood are the nights of most impatience. (VGS, c.8) (VA, c.24)
19. The cattle are like their master. (VGS, c.13)
20. Braver are many in word than in deed. (GS, c.4)
21. The friend warns his friend of ill. (GS, c.17)
22. He knows most who most has tried. (GS, c.17)
23. Many seem wise who are lacking in wit. (GS, c.17)
24. The thrall alone takes instant vengeance; the coward never. (GS, c.15)
25. Work not done, needs no reward. (GS, c.17)
26. Many a trifle happens at eve. (GS, c.18)
27. Every one is master of his own words. (GS, c.19)
28. Long shall a man be tried. (GS, c.20)
29. The guess of the wise is truth. (GS, c.31)
30. Luck is one thing, brave deeds another. (GS, c.34)
31. True is the saying that no man shapes his own fortune (Luck). (GS, c.41)
32. Be not a braggart for if any work done be praise-worthy, others will sing your praises for you.
33. Often he who has many words says little of worth.
34. The overpraised are the worst deceivers. (GS, c.45)
35. One man's tale is but half a tale. (GS, c,46)
36. One evil is mended by a worse one. (GS, c.47)
37. There is more in the heart of man than money can buy. (GS, c.47)
38. The mother is best. (GS, c.17)
39. Many have been brought to death by overconfidence. (GS, c.54)
40. Ill is the lot of him who has an ill name. (GS, c.56)
41. Oft in the woods is a listener nigh. (GS, c.59)
42. The unjust man prospers ill. (GS, c.62)
43. Trust no man so well that you trust not yourself better. Many are unfit to be trusted. (GS, c.67)
44. The hand turns to its wonted skill, and that which was learned in youth is always most familiar. (GS, c.78)
45. Many go to the goat-house to get wool. (GS, c.78)
46. There are few more certain tokens of ill than not to know how to accept the good. (GS, c.78)
47. Old friends are the last to break away. (GS, c.82)
48. It is ill to have a thrall for your friend. (GS, c.82)
49. Bare is his back who has no brother. (GS, c.82)
50. A wagging tongue is the beginning of ill works.