20 Viking proverbs on war and life

A warlike and combative civilization, but with great teachings and moral values.

When you think of the civilization of the the Vikings, perhaps the the last thing that comes to mind is poetry, storytelling and thestorytelling and wood carving.

Rather you associate them with movies about ships and bloody expeditions, images of horned helmets, berseker warriors, drakars, the mythological Valhalla hall, the one-eyed god Odin and men who died sword in hand and drank from skulls, raising the cups with their burly bodies. Today we have a collection of Viking Proverbs.

What was the Viking civilization like?

And the reality is different: the Viking civilization was made up of a legion of pirates who raided pirates who raided enemy ships and plundered, killed plundered, killed and spread their own law (and with it, the most absolute terror) along the European coasts. But their reputation, as historians show us, is not entirely deserved: they were not only ruthless warriors who bathed the ocean in Blood and guts, but they were also very good merchants, administrators and craftsmen of metal and wood, resources with which they produced valuable jewelry and artifacts that have been preserved to this day.

Some of these Vikings were well known as storytellers in the north of the old continent, and the Norse sagas continue to attract the public today, eager to know the stories and teachings of this civilization. And, needless to say, the Vikings did not wear horned helmets: as you might guess, no Viking in his right mind would want to look like a cow or a bull.

The best Viking proverbs

In today's compilation we have selected a number of proverbs, phrases and proverbs, phrases and sayings attributed to the Vikings, so you can get to know his philosophy of life in a few lines. Shall we start?

1. "Before entering a place, see where you can get out."

A phrase that honors the conquering spirit of this civilization.

2. "If you eat cherries with the powerful you risk having pits raining down on your nose."

A reflection on power and dangerous friendships.

3. "Man honors a friend with affection, responds to a gift with a gift. To laughter he responds with laughter, and to trick with trick."

As you do, so you receive. There is no more.

4. "There is no better baggage to carry than sanity and a clear mind. In distant lands it is more useful than gold and gets the poor out of trouble."

Clear thinking can take you a long way in life.

Viking quotes

5. "Live with illusion while you are alive, the agile always get ahead. I saw the flames of a mansion, but at the door lay a dead man."

Vital energy is one of the great virtues we can learn from the Viking civilization.

6. "The population was frightened by the Vikings because of their ferocity and cruelty".

This is rather a historiographic quote that shows us the fear that the Vikings aroused in the neighboring populations.

7. "If you manage to find a loyal friend and you want him to be useful to you, open your heart to him, send him gifts and travel often to see him."

Believe it or not, friendship and camaraderie were also values praised by these northern European inhabitants.

8. "He who always speaks and never keeps silent says many foolish things. The light tongue causes trouble and often belittles man."

No flies can enter into a closed mouth. If you want to be respected, do not speak without clear direction.

Viking sayings and proverbs

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

Another reflection that shows the importance they attributed to friendship and loyalty.

10. "A guest should leave on time and not overstay his welcome; even a friend becomes annoying if he stays too long."

Good things, if brief, are twice as good. A maxim also applied by the North Europeans.

11. "Do not praise the day until evening has come; do not praise a woman until her pyre; do not praise a sword until you have tried it; do not praise a maiden until she has married; do not praise ice until you have crossed it; do not praise beer until you have drunk it."

A phrase that is a vaccine against prejudices and preconceived thoughts.

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

Prudence, first and foremost. Those who smile now, later may be your most fearsome enemies.

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

Thank you very much for listening to this series of Viking Proverbs and we hope you liked them very much.

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

A phrase that reflects a clear vitalist philosophy.

15. "The best burden a man can carry is too much sense; the worst, too much drink."

A phrase with a touch of humor and irony.

16. "Crumbs are also bread."

A simple Viking proverb about, justly, the simplicity with which, according to this perspective, we should use certain resources humbly.

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

A reflection on the inevitability of old age and the loss of certain cherished faculties.

18. "Away from home do not stray an inch from your weapons."

A phrase reflecting the warlike character of this people.

19. "Neither poverty compels anyone to steal nor wealth prevents it."

A moral reflection on the conditions of life and the choices we make.

20. "A man of respect must be reserved, thoughtful and brave in battle."

This proverb clearly expresses the ideal Viking man.