The Vikings were mysterious and strong seafarers, and their popularity has grown throughout time. Many of their sayings and ideas are still relevant today. Below you’ll find a selection of Viking quotes, sayings and ideas from the Norse mythology, movies and authors.
Viking Quotes
[quotebox] Better to fight and fall than to live without hope” – Volsunga Saga, Chapter 12 [/quotebox]
[quotebox] It is better to stand and fight. If you run, you’ll only die tired [/quotebox]
[quotebox] If you find your axe is too short, add to it’s length.. by continuining to take steps forward [/quotebox]
[quotebox] Eyes can not hide a woman’s love for a man – The Saga of Gunnlaugur the Worm-tongue, chapter 13[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Our most important baggage on our journeys is wisdom – Hávamál[/quotebox]
[quotebox] One should not ask more than would be thought fitting – Hávamál[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Never break the peace which good and true men make between you and others – Hávamál[/quotebox]
[quotebox] No one is a total fool if he can be silent – The Saga of Grettir the Strong, chapter 88[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Never laugh at the old when they offer counsel, often their words are wise – Havaml: 134[/quotebox]
[quotebox] A tale is but half told when only one person tells it – The Saga of Grettir the Strong, chapter 46[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Courage is better than keenest steel – Sigurth, Fáfnimál[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Where fault can be found, the good is ignored – The Saga of Burnt Njal, chapter 139[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Bravely and gladly a man shall go, till the day of his death is come – Hávamál: 15[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Do well by your kinsmen and take little revenge for their wrongdoings. Endure patience and you will win long-lasting praise – Brynhild[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Over the foaming salt sea spray, The Norse sea-horses took their way, Racing across the ocean-plain – Heimskringla[/quotebox]
[quotebox] There are few more certain tokens of ill than not to know how to accept the good – The Saga of Grettir the Strong, chapter 78[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Though glad at home, and merry with guests, a man shall be way and wise – Hávamál: 103[/quotebox]
[quotebox]He is bad-tempered, and may be that I shall let another’s wound be my warning – The Saga of Burnt Njal, chapter 37[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Love is mingled when a man can say to a bosom friend what burdens him – Hávamál: 124[/quotebox]
[quotebox]There are more things to be thought of by men than money alone – The Saga of Grettir the Strong, chapter 47[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Shun not the mead, but drink in measure – Hávamál: 19[/quotebox]
[quotebox]All dead men’s ghosts do grow more dread as daylight darkens to dimness of night – Helgakviða Hundingsbana II[/quotebox]
[quotebox]For heroes, ’tis seemly the truth to speak – Helgakviða Hundingsbana II[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Braver are many in word than in deed – Grettir, The Saga of Grettir the Strong[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Push away pride! Your strength, your power, are yours for how many years? Death comes faster than you think, no one can flee it – Beowulf[/quotebox]
[quotebox]I demolish my bridges behind me – then there is no choice but forward – Fridtjof Nansen[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Never stop because you are afraid – you are never so likely to be wrong – Fridtjof Nansen[/quotebox]
[quotebox]We will never flee from our enemies but rather endure their weapons – Hjalmar, Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks: 4[/quotebox]
[quotebox]Now the youth was to enter the line of battle with his lord, his first time to be tested as a fighter. His spirit did not break – Beowulf[/quotebox]
[quotebox] Do not dispute with those who are drunk on wine and have lost their wits – Saga of the Volsungs [/quotebox]
[quotebox]There are few more certain tokens of ill than not to know how to accept the good – Grettir Saga, c.78 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Old friends are the last to break away – The Saga of Grettir [/quotebox]
[quotebox]What brothers own jointly is best seen together – Gisli Sursson’s Saga, c.10 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Few are bold in old age that are cowardly in childhood – Volsunga Saga, c.18 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Stand by your own trial and not by what others say – Gudmundur Jonsson [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Often times it is not numbers that wins the victory, but those who fare forward with the most vigor
– The Saga of Thrond of Gate, c.19 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]When men meet foes in fight, better is stout heart than sharp sword – Volsunga, c.19 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]To take up great resolutions, and then to lay them aside, only ends in dishonor – King Olaf Trygvisson’s Saga, c.9 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Ill is the result of letting fear rule thine actions – The Saga of Harald Hardrade, c.46 [/quotebox]
[quotebox] Too much ale and a man’s heart is laid open for all to see – The Saga of Olaf Haraldsson, c.151 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]There’s no excusing the man who rejects the truth once it’s proven – Fóstbrœðra saga, c.23 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]When ill seed has been sown, so an ill crop will spring from it – Njal’s Saga [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Likely is ill the result when words of slander fly – Heitharvega, c.35 [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Varied will be his fortunes who fares far – The Saga of Fridthjof the Bold [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Sorrow is lightened by being brought out openly – The Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf [/quotebox]
[quotebox]Forethought is better than afterthought – Vatnsdæla Saga [/quotebox]
Sources: Vikingrune.com
