Famous Viking quotes: Words of wisdom from the Norsemen
Famed for their ruthlessness and their courage, the Vikings were a canny bunch, too. These pearls of wisdom are just as relevant today as ever.
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The Vikings are infamous for their bravery as well as their butchery.
However, brawn alone will only get you so far without the brains to accompany it. After all, you don’t conquer multiple civilisations – including Britain – without learning a few lessons along the way.
Thankfully, many of the tenets and truisms prized by the Vikings have survived to the modern day and many still have just as much relevance in it now as they ever did.
Here are a handful of the most famous for your enjoyment.
'Fear not death, for the hour of your doom is set and none may escape it' - Saga of the Volsungs
This bullish quote from the Volsunga Saga postulates that fearing death is nonsensical, since it’s a natural occurrence that will come to us all. If we extrapolate even further, we can take 'death' as a metaphor for 'failure'.
In this light, the quote urges us to live our lives to the fullest and confront every situation with confidence, daring and conviction. Not bad for a pep talk.
'Better to fight and fall than live without hope' - Saga of the Volsungs
The Vikings were renowned the world over for the fighting spirit they carried into their fearsome raids and this particular quote perfectly encapsulates it. Even when the odds are stacked against you, it’s still preferable to battle for what you believe in than give up hope entirely.
Again, this principle is apt for today’s modern world. Although most of us will thankfully never find ourselves in the heat of battle, all of us will encounter adversity in some form or other. Failure might ensue, but overcoming the odds makes success all the sweeter.
'The unwise man is awake and ponders everything over; when morning comes, he is weary in mind and all is a burden as ever' - Hávamál
The Hámavál is a 10th-century poem attributed to Odin, who is undoubtedly the most important of all the Norse gods. Famed for his wisdom, it’s no surprise he served up pearls such as this one about the folly of futile worry.
Instead of wasting time and energy fretting about what to do, it’s far preferable to take decisive action in any situation. Whether the outcome is good or bad, at least you won’t have prevaricated to no end.
'Often has it been that I have regretted speech, seldom silence' – Hávamál
Another great little nugget of insight from Odin comes in the form of this quote about the value in keeping one’s own counsel and refraining from speaking in the heat of the moment.
This sentiment has pervaded through the ages and can be seen in phrases such as 'A still tongue makes a wise head' or, more recently, the widely publicised propaganda slogan of 'Loose lips sink ships' during World War II.
'One’s back is vulnerable, unless one has a brother' - Saga of Grettir
A Viking version of the axiom that there is safety in numbers, this quote refers (again) to the battlefield, where even the best warrior could be surprised from behind. As such, it was essential to have his brothers guard it for him.
As with so many of these bloodthirsty sayings, it has relevance beyond warmongering, too, since a life lived amongst others is always safer (not to mention more enjoyable and fulfilling) than a solitary one.
'The brave man well shall fight and win, dull though his blade may be' - Fáfnismál
The vast arsenal at the disposal of the Viking warriors is as fearsome as it is varied, with axes, spears and swords all put to extremely effective use. However, this maxim highlights how the valour of the wielder is more important than the weapon itself.
In terms of modern-day society, this could be considered akin to the saying, 'A good workman never blames his tools'. After all, a good workman will find a way to get the job done, even with shoddy instruments, just as a good Viking will kill with his bare hands.
'Gold is little comfort for the kinsman dead' - Örvar Odd’s Saga
For a people so intent on pillaging and plundering, it might come as something of a surprise to hear that they did recognise the limits of material wealth. Life was prioritised over booty, while kinship and family were regarded as the pinnacle of human riches.
This proverb has perhaps never been more pertinent than it is today. In a world where success is often defined in terms of bank balances and material possessions, it’s vital to remember that there are far more significant things in life.
'Wisdom is welcome wherever it comes from' - Bandamanna Saga
What better way to end this list of famous Viking quotes than one which extols the virtue of wisdom, wherever it arises? After all, most people with only a modicum of knowledge about the Vikings would probably not describe them as a particularly judicious people.
No matter how lofty we regard our own opinions and how little we value those of certain others, we must always stay humble and open to input if we wish to choose the right path.
