THE NORSE CODE: 25 VIKING QUOTES FROM THE SAGAS

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These viking quotes have been taken from sagas, poems, and ancient texts that survived the viking era.

"Cattle die, kinsmen die, you yourself will die. I know one thing that never dies: the judgment of a dead man's life."

—Hávamál

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"Fear not death, for the hour of your doom is set and none may escape it."

—Volsunga Saga

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"A man should not leave his weapons lying about behind his back in a field; you never know when you may need your spear."

—Hávamál

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"Better to fight and fall than to live without hope."

—Volsunga Saga

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"No one is a total fool if he knows when to hold his tongue."

—Grettir's Saga

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"The unwise man thinks he will live forever if he avoids battle, but old age leaves him no peace, even if the spears spare him."

—Hávamál

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"Too much ale and a man's heart is laid open for all to see."

—The Saga of Olaf Haraldsson

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"Where wolf's ears are, wolf's teeth are near."

—Volsunga Saga

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"Fight your foes in the field, nor be burnt in your house."

—Volsunga Saga

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"Wisdom is welcome wherever it comes from."

—Bandamanna Saga

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"Better to die with honor than live with shame."

—The Saga of the Jomsvikings

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"Trust not him whose father, brother or other kin you have slain, no matter how young he be, for often grows the wolf in the child."

—Volsunga Saga

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"The brave man well shall fight and win, though dull his blade may be."

—Fafnismal

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"Praise day at evening, a wife after cremation, a sword after trial, ice after crossing, ale after drinking."

—Hávamál

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"Gold is little comfort for the kinsman dead."

—Örvar Odd's Saga

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"A ship's planks may break, but honor is eternal."

—Old Norse proverb

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"The one you trust most can disappoint you most."

—Fljotsdale Saga

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"That which has a bad beginning is likely to have a bad ending."

—Hen-Thorir's Saga

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"The sluggard believes he'll live forever if he avoids a fight—but fate spares him not."

—Hávamál

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"Be warned by another's woe."

—Njal's Saga

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"Eagles should show their claws, though dying."

—The Saga of Olaf Haraldsson

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"A rotten branch will be found in every tree."

—The Saga of Olaf Haraldsson

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"A gift demands a gift."

—Old Norse proverb

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"He who hoards food for guests is a fool; the mouse will eat it before the morning."

—Norse proverb

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"Old friends are the last to break away."

—The Saga of Grettir

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