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. [1] (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. [2] (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. [3] (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. [4] (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. [5] (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.
51. Many a fair skin hides a foul mind. (ES, c.16)
52. Many are the words of bravery in times of weal, but few are they whose actions match brave words in times of woe.
53. Boldly do men talk from a distance. (HS)
54. Ill it is when men, with smooth talk, sidestep what is just and good. (HS, c.35)
55. Best it is, for man's words to seek peace when it is possible. (HS, c.35)
56. Likely is ill the result when words of slander fly. (HS, c.35)
57. Wise men hold it that distance is the cure of rage. (HS, c.35)
58. Many a man keeps his word of foster-brothership but middlingly well. (TVS, c.16)
59. It is good to have two mouths for the two kinds of speech. [6] (TVs, c.16)
60. It is better to keep one's oath. (TVs, c.19)
61. Varied will be his fortunes who fares far. (SFB, c.6)
62. Alone is it seemly to hold truly to troth given. (VS, c.4)
63. Fear not death, for the hour of your doom is set and none may escape it. (VS, c.5)
64. Sweet to the eye is that which is seen. (VS, c.5)
65. No might against many. (VS, c.11)
66. Better to fight and fall than to live without hope. (VS, c.12)
67. For whoso comes amongst many shall one day find that no one man is by so far the mightiest of all. (VS, c.18)
68. When men meet foes in fight, better is stout heart than sharp sword. (VS, c.19)
69. Where wolf's ears are, wolf's teeth are near. (VS, c.19)
70. Be kind to friend and kin, and reward not their trespasses against you; bear and forbear, and win for yourself thereby long enduring praise of men. (VS, c.21)
71. Ill it is to take love from another man's wife. (VS, c.21)
72. Let not thy mind be overmuch crossed by unwise men at thronged meetings of folk; for oft these speak worse than they wot of; lest thou be called a dastard, and art minded to think that thou art even as is said; slay such an one on another day, and so reward his ugly talk. (VS, c.21)
73. When faring on journeys, ward yourself well. Take not harbor near the highway for thereby dwell many ill wights for men's bewilderment. (VS, c.21)
74. If you hear the fool's word of a drunken man, strive not with him who is drunk with drink and witless, for often only ill and doom come out of such things. (VS, c.21)
75. Fight your foes in the field, nor be burnt in your house. (VS, c.21)
76. Never swear false oaths; great and grim is the reward for the breaking of troth. (VS, c.21)
77. Give kind heed to the dead, sick-dead, Sea-dead, or word-dead; treat their bodies with respect and see that they are laid to rest with respect. (VS, c.21)
78. 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. (VS, c.21)
79. Kinsmen to kinsmen should be true. (OH, c.186)
80. Ill it is to sit lamenting for what cannot be had. (VS, c.24)
81. Who can say what sorrow seemingly carefree folk bear to their life's end. (VS, c.24)
82. Ill is it to abash folk of their mirth. (VS, c.25)
83. Good to love good things when all goes according to thy heart's desire. [7] (VS, c.28)
84. Never nourish a wolf-cub. [8] (VS, c.30)
85. Short is the hour for acting, and long the hour for feasting. (SHG, c.28)
86. Fear is the mother of defeat.
87. No harvest is had without the seed first being sown. (OT, c.8)
88. To take up great resolutions, and then to lay them aside, only ends in dishonor. (OT, c.9)
89. The king has many ears. (OT, c.89)
90. What people wish they soon believe. (OT, c.122)
91. Who can't defend the wealth they have must die, or share with the rover bold. (OH, c.6)
92. The common always love what is new. (OH, c.33)
93. It is their lot who stand with the great that they enjoy high honors, and are more respected than others, but stand often in danger of their lives. (OH, c.67)
94. Every one has some friend even among his enemies. (OH, c.73)
95. Better it is to have a lower position in life and be free than to have a position of power only to be subject to the will of another. (OH, c.79)
96. There are few things for which a match cannot be found. [9] (OH, c.86)
97. Luck accompanies wisdom. (OH, c.131)
98. A rotten branch will be found in every tree. (OH, c.148)
99. Too much ale and a man's heart is laid open for all to see. (OH, c.151)
100. A man's own hand is the truest test. [10] (OH, c.153)
101. Two masters is one too many, if a man wishes to be true. (OH, c.170)
102. Eagles should show their claws, though dying. (OH, c.186)
103. With many who come to power and honor, pride keeps pace with promotion. (MG, c.8)
104. The sluggard waits till afternoon. (MG, c.17)
105. Youth is hasty. (SHH, c.27)
106. It is an old custom for the wisest to give way. [11] (SHH, c.27)
107. Ill is the result of letting fear rule thine actions. (SHH, c.46)
108. All a people need in order to rise up against tyranny is a leader bold enough to take up the banner. (SHH, c.45)
109. Numbers cannot skill withstand. [12] (SHH, c.65)
110. Bravery is half the victory. (SHH, c.103)
111. Bad counsel comes to a bad end. (MB, c.6)
112. Many a friend is poor help indeed, in times of need. (MB, c.6)
113. The bold succeed where so ever they go. (MB, c.8)
114. One whose life you save often gives a very bad return. (MB, c.21)
115. Sorrow is lightened by being brought out openly. (SC, c.18)
116. There are plenty of affairs full of danger to start with, that bring good luck in the end. (HE, c.7)
117. Ill luck is homebred. (DS, c.10)
118. If words leave the lips, they travel. (FS, c.11)
119. It's better to be betrayed than to trust no one. (FS, c.13)
120. Wrong begets wrong. (FS, c.16)
121. Many are wise after the event. (FS, c.19)
122. The one you trust most can disappoint you most. (FS, c.23)
123. He who warns is not to be blamed. (FS, c.23)
124. A miser can never give a gift without a snag. (GA, c.1)
125. Luck follows the generous. (GA, c.9)
126. Warning wards of blame. (HR, c.4)
127. Often is there regret for saying too much, and seldom regret for saying too little. (HR, c.7)
128. A person's actions are often worse than their intentions. (HR, c.10)
129. Stubbornness brings either greater humiliation or greater honor. (HR, c.10)
130. Short is the life of the proud. (HR, c.14)
131. A sleeping man's an ignorant man too. (HF)
132. One man cannot stand up against many. (JS, c.21)
133. Better to die with honor than live with shame. (JS, c.23, BH)
134. A wounded coward lies low. (TS)
135. Ill it is to take action when a person shouldn't and hold back when a person should. (TS)
136. Anybody who offends a more powerful man can hardly expect to wear out many more new shirts. (TS)
137. Oft one finds, when the foe he meets, that he is not the bravest of all. (Fafnismal 17)
138. It often happens that he who gets a death wound yet avenges himself. (Fafnismal 20)
139. The brave man well shall fight and win, though dull his blade may be. (Fafnismal 28)
140. All should be told to a friend. (Egil's Saga, c.56)
141. He falls not whom true friends help forward on his way. (Egil's Saga, c.67)
142. Bad counsel turns out badly. (VA, c.3)
143. There is more honor in accumulating little by little than in reaching for the sky and ending up flat on your face. (VA, c.7)
144. The reason why young men get nowhere is that they overestimate the obstacles every time. (HR, c.7)
145. Few things are more powerful than wyrd. (VA, c.12)
146. It is hard to fly in the face of wyrd. (VA, c.14)
147. Falling in battle is the lot of brave men. (VA, c.24)
148. Good it is to end a stout life with a stout death. (MB, c.6)
149. Forethought is better than afterthought. (VA, c.40)
150. A person should trust their own experience rather than hearsay. (BS, c.2)
151. Reputation rarely flatters. (BS, c.2)
152. Many eyes squint when there's money around. (BS, c.5)
153. When truth and fairness are different from what is law, better it is to follow truth and fairness. (BS, c.6)
154. A person should not agree today to what they'll regret tomorrow. (BS, c.10)
155. Ill it is to abandon honor and integrity in exchange for injustice and greed. (BS, c.10)
156. Wisdom is welcome wherever it comes from. (BS, c.10)
157. Gossip often leads to trouble. (GSS, c.9)
158. A wise man does all things in moderation. (GSS, c.15)
159. A gift always looks to be repaid. (GSS, c.16)
160. Great deeds and ill deeds often fall within each other's shadow. (GSS, c.17)
161. The treachery of friend is worse than that of a foe. (GSS, c.32)
162. Lighter to pay is the vengeance-price, after the deed, if the son is dead. [13] (Sigurtharkvitha en Skamma 11)
163. A person should exhibit frith whatever may come. Though many wish for good, ill is oft the more mighty. (Atlamol en Gronlenzku 34)
164. A man without wisdom is lacking in much. (Hamthesmal 29)
165. In fashion of wolves, in befits kin not, amongst themselves, to strive. (Hamthesmal 31)
166. None outlives the night when the Norns have spoken. (Hamthesmal 32)
167. A man should have his plans worked out before he enters into great undertakings or incites others to them. (RS, c.8)
168. Ill counselled is it to lend one's money to unknown men. (GW, c.7)
169. Long is it remembered what youth has gained. (GW, c.13)
170. The eyes of a maid, tell true, to whom her love she has given. (GW, c.13)
171. The more folk stand in the way of two hearts that yearn for each other, the hotter the flame of love waxes. (VF, c.11)
172. Often times it is not numbers that wins the victory, but those who fare forward with the most vigor. (TG, c.19)
173. Few are bold in old age that are cowardly in childhood. (VS, c.18)
174. A person should tend to the oak if they want to live under it. (EG, c.71)
175. Only a coward waits to be taken like a lamb from the fold or a fox from a trap. (LS, c.40)
176. Least said, soonest mended. (LS)
177. It can be expected that a man who has a lot on his mind will not always be careful enough. (HR, c.9)
178. Who dares, wins. (HR, c.9)
179. It often happens that things go by turns. [14] (TG, c.31)
180. Stand by your own trial and not by what others say. (GJ)
181. Ward thy words well, for they may seem more hasty later, than they do now. (GJ)
182. It may go well at first, for those who try to lord it over others, but they may find things more difficult as time goes by. (GJ)
181. It is best to only say today what will not be regretted tomorrow. (BS, c.10)
182. Beware of those who speak fairly but think falsely. (BH, c.7)
183. Ill is the result of being more given to big talk than using one's wits. (BH, c.19 )
184. Many travels, many fortunes. (EG, c.38)
185. It is better to ride a whole wagon home. (EG, c.38)
186. Anything can be told to a friend. (EG, c.56)
187. The king's palace is an easy place to enter but hard to leave. (EG, c.69)
188. Often a man becomes brave in dire straights, who is not brave most other times. (ES, c.18)
189. Do not expect to make headway with a frail sailcloth. (ES, c.20)
190. Often it is that what happens to most others will happen to you. (ES, c.32)
191. It is best not to believe what no one else believes. (FS, c.25)
192. A small bird makes a small catch. (FS, c.29)
193. The run of the game is decided by the first move. (FO, c.15)
194. Seldom will a voyage go well if the men are at odds. (FO, c.20)
195. Often it is that anger is blind to the truth. (FO, c.22)
196. If a man's time has not come, something will save him. (FO, c.23)
197. There’s no excusing the man who rejects the truth once it’s proven. (FO, c.23)
198. It is long time before scorched ground grows again. (FO, c.24)
199. Vyrd often finds a person to speak through. (GSS, c.9)
200. What brothers own jointly is best seen together. (GSS, c.10)
201. A wise man does all things in moderation. (GSS, ch.18)
202. He knows all who knows when to stop. (GJ)
203. A gift always looks to be repaid. (GSS, c.18)
204. Low the mocker’s fame lies. (GJ)
205. It’s a bad thing to goad the obstinate. (GS, c.14)
206. What only happens to one is worst. (GS, c.16)
207. Many hands make light work. (GS, c.17)
208. Every man is the master of his own words. (GS, c.19)
209. It takes time to know people. (GS, c.20)
210. Never reach around a door for the handle. (GS, c.28)
211. Fate and fortune do not always go hand-in-hand. (GS, c.34)
212. What is done shall be told all the same. (GS, c.40)
213. What is tested is known. (GS, c.40)
214. No man is his own creator. (GS, c.41)
215. You can hardly expect any peace for troublemakers. (TPMA)
216. More people prefer the worse side of a story which has two versions. (GS, c.46)
217. There is greater consolation than money. (GS, c.47)
218. You can’t provide for everything. (GS, c.52)
219. The fire seems hottest to a burned man. (GS, c.59)
220. Overbearing reaps a bad reward. (GS, c.62)
221. Many a man is blind to his own faults. (GS, c.68)
222. There is a time for everything. (GS, c.73)
223. No one is a total fool if he knows when to hold his tongue. (GS, c.88)
224. All things happen in threes. (GS, c.88)
225. Many breakers of battle-axes are more brag than brains. (GS, c.4)
226. Not every cloud which darkens the day brings rain. (HS, c.7)
227. One should warn even a dim-witted troll if he sits naked by a fire. (HS, c.14)
228. The fool is busy in everyone’s business but his own. (HS, c.14)
229. Nothing good can happen to people who break their solemn vows. (HR, c.6)
230. He’s a wise man who knows himself. (HR, c.7)
231. Hard words break no bones. (HTS, c.13)
232. Evil grows from evil. (HTS, c.14)
233. That which has a bad beginning, is likely to have a bad ending. (HTS, c.4)
234. Ill is it to do the wrong and leave the right undone. (KR, c.3)
235. One should not ask more than would be thought fitting. (KR, c.10)
236. A hungry wolf is bound to wage a hard battle. (LS, c.19)
237. The counsel of fools is the more misguided the more of them there are. (LS, c.21)
238. Better a brief spell of honour than a long rule of shame. (LS, c.29)
239. When one wolf hunts for another he may eat the prey. (LS, c.23)
240. A bird in the hand was better than two in the bush. (LS, c.24)
241. Only idlers wait till evening. (LS, c.35)
242. Festivals are a time of fortune. (LS, c.40)
243. The longer the vengeance is drawn out, the more satisfying it will be. (LJS, c.13)
244. The wide woods often cover outlaw and wolf together. (TPMA)
245. Word carries, though mouth stands still. (VFS, c.3)
246. He with a short knife must try, try again. (VFS, c.7)
247. Every man must plough his own furrow.” (VFS, c.5)
248. Better to take warning early than late. (VFS, c.40)
249. Gold is little comfort for the kinsman dead. (OO, c.11)
250. When someone speaks of ill, it is never far away. (OO, c.23) [15]
251. Beggars always want to be choosers. (OO, c.24)
Notes:
Since Volsunga Saga includes most of the Heroic lays from the Poetic Edda, material from those lays are included here. The few verses which do not have a citation following, are of my own authoring based on situations in the sagas. All other verses are either direct quotes with perhaps a little editing to put them more properly in verse form or are paraphrases. The paraphrased verses were paraphrased in an attempt to either make the meaning more clear or to update the language into a less archaic form of English.
1. The. [Back]
2. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. [Back]
3. The urge to react is most strong on the night a wrong was committed and with time the urge wains. The nights of blood here, means the night of a killing. [Back]
4. When one reacts to an evil without careful consideration often the reaction turns out to be a worse evil than the original. [Back]
5. Don't search in the wrong place for what you seek. [Back]
6. This is a slight commenting on those who are inconsistent in their behavior, courteous and generous one moment and miserly and rude the next. [Back]
7. Enjoy what you got while you got it. [Back]
8. This refers to the son of man whom one slays. If one did slay a man, that man's son was not only honor bound to avenge his father but most likely be willing to gladly go to great lengths to do so. [Back]
9. Here the word “match” refers to something better when compared. For example; “I would be hard to find a match for this sword.” i.e. a better sword. [Back]
10. The best assurances that something is done right and true, is to do it yourself instead of trusting others to do it. [Back]
11. When two parties are in conflict the wise know when to back off so that a bad situation does not become worse than needs be. [Back]
12. Quality over quantity. [Back]
13. This is basically the meaning of strophe 84. [Back]
14. Basically, the tables often turn. [Back]
15. Slightly modified from: "...when someone speaks of the devil he’s never very far away." [Back]
History
Sögumál is not an ancient text but a modern compilation
of ancient texts and sayings based on ancient texts. Since Volsunga Saga includes
most of the Heroic lays from the Poetic Edda, material from those lays are included
here. The few verses which do not have a citation following, are of my own authoring
based on situations in the sagas. All other verses are either direct quotes
with perhaps a little editing to put them more properly in verse form or are
paraphrases. The paraphrased verses were paraphrased in an attempt to either
make the meaning more clear or to update the language into a less archaic form
of English.
- Álfta Svanni Lothursdottir
31 August 2002 - Debuted to the public.
2 April 2003 - Strophes 149-179 added. Thanks go to Philip A. Lee for
sending in the quotes for strophes 173-178.
29 October 2003 - Many thanks go to Richard L. Harris for allowing us to use material from his excellent Concordance to the Proverbs and Proverbial Materials in the Old Icelandic Sagas for strophes 180-251.
Abbreviations:
AH - The Story of Ale-Hood
AS - Audun's Story
ASX - The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
BB - Bolli Bollason's Tale
BH - The Saga of Bjarn of the Hitdoela Champions
BS - Bandamanna Saga
DS - Droplaugarson's Saga
EA - Egil's and Asmund's Saga
EG - Egil's Saga
ENM - Estonian National Museum Web Site
ER - Eirik the Red's Saga
ES - Eyrbyggja Saga
FB - The Flatey Book
FS - Fljotsdale Saga
FO - Fóstbrœðra saga - The Foster-brother's Saga
G - Germania
GA - Gautrek's Saga
GJ - Guðmundur Jónsson, Safn af íslenzkum orðskviðum, fornmælum, heilræðum, snilliyrðum, sannmælum og málsgreinum, samanlesið of í stafrófsröð sett af Guðmundi Jónssyni prófasti í Snæfellsnessýslu og presti í Staðarstaðarsókn. Kaupmannahöfn, 1830.
GOTH - Gothic History Of Jordanes
GR - Saga of King Harald Grafeld and of Earl Hakon Son of Sigurd
GRE - Greendland's Saga
GS - Grettir's Saga
GSS - Gisli Sursson's Saga
GW - The Tale of Gunnlaug the Worm-tongue and Raven the Skald
GY - Gylfaginning (The Prose Edda)
HAH - The Tale of Hogni and Hedinn
HAK - The Saga of Hakon Herdebreid
HAL - The Story of Hallador Snorrason
HB - The Saga of Halfdan the Black
HE - The Story of Herraud and Bosa
HF - The Story of Hreidar the Fool
HG - The Saga of Hromund Gripsson
HH - Harald Harfager's Saga
HL - History of the Langobards
HR - The Saga of Hrafnkel Freysgothi
HS - Heitharvega Saga
HT - The Story of Helgi Thorisson
HTS - Hen-Thorir's Saga
JS - The Saga of the Jomsvikings
KR - Króka-refs Saga
KS - Kormak's Saga
KT - The Saga of Ketil Trout
KU - Of the Kings of the Uplands
LRE - The Later Roman Empire (A.D. 354-378) - Ammianus Marcellinus
LJS - Ljósvetninga Saga
LS - Laxdaela Saga
MB - The Saga of Magnus Barefoot
ME - The Saga of Magnus Erlingsson
MG - The Saga of Magnus the Good
OH - The Saga of Olaf Haraldsson (St. Olaf)
OO - Örvar Odd's Saga
OK - The Saga of Olaf Kyrre
OT - King Olaf Trygvisson's Saga
RF - The Tale of Roi the Fool
ROB - Concerning the Ruin of Britain: De Excidio Britanniae, by Gildas
RS - The Saga of Ref the Sly
RV - Reykdoela saga (ok Víga-Skutu)
SC - The Saga of Sigurd the Crusader and His Brothers Eystein and Olaf
SFB - The Saga oif Fridthjof the Bold
SH - The Tale of Sarcastic Halli
SHG - The Saga of Hakon the Good
SHH - The Saga of Harald Hardrade
SI - The Saga of Illugi
SIE - The Saga of Sigurd, Inge, and Eystein, the Sons of Harald
SK - Skaldskaparmal (The Prose Edda)
SMB - The Saga of Magnus the Blind and of Harald Gille
SW - The Tale of the Story-Wise Icelander
TG - The Saga of Thrond of Gate (Færeyinga Saga)
TMM - The Story of Thorstein Mansion-Might
TPMA - Thesaurus Proverbiorum Medii Aevi, 14 vols., Samuel Singer Kuratorium
TS - The Saga of Thorstein Staff-struck
TTS - The Tale of Thorstein Shiver
TVS - The Saga of Thorstein Viking's Son
VFS - Vapnfirðinga Saga
VA - Vatnsdæla Saga
VF - The Story of Viglund the Fair
VGS - Viga Glum's Saga
VS - Volsunga Saga
YS - Ynglinga Saga
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