#good values

Here are a few, from the Poetic Edda, one of the most well known works of Norse culture and mythology, and these particular values come from the mouth of Odin himself:  “Fire is needful for someone who’s come in and who’s chilled to the knee; food and clothing are necessary for the man who’s journeyed over the mountains.

Water is needful for someone who comes to a meal, a towel and a warm welcome, a friendly disposition, if he could get it, speech and silence in return.” 

“About his intelligence no man should be boastful, rather cautious of mind; when a wise and silent man comes to a homestead blame seldom befalls the wary; for no more dependable friend can a man ever get than a store of common sense.”

“It isn’t as good as it’s said to be, ale, for the sons of men; for the more a man drinks, the less he knows about his own mind.”

“Let no man hold onto the cup, but drink mead in moderation, let him say what’s necessary or be silent; no man will scoff you because you go off early to bed.”

“He’s a wretched man, of evil disposition, the one who makes fun of everything; he doesn’t know the one thing he ought to know; that he is not devoid of faults.”

“The stupid man stays awake all night and worries about everything; he’s tired out when the morning comes and all’s just as bad as it was.”

“Wise he esteems himself who knows how to question and how to answer as well; the sons of men cannot keep secret what’s going around about folk.” 

“It’s a great detour to a bad friend’s house, even though he lives on the route; but to a good friend’s house the ways lie straight, even though he lives far off.”

“A man must go, he must not remain a guest always in one place; the loved man is loathed if he sits too long in someone else’s hall.”

“A farm of your own is better, even if small, everyone’s someone at home; though he has two goats and a twig-roofed room, that is still better than begging,”

“With weapons and gifts friends should gladden one another, those which can be seen on them; mutual givers and receivers are friends for longest, if the friendship keeps going well.”

“A man need not give only a big gift, often you buy praise with a little; with half a loaf and a tilted cup I’ve got myself a companion.”

“One brand takes fire from another, until it is consumed, a flame’s kindled by flame; one man becomes clever by talking with another, but foolish through being reserved.” 

“He should get up early, the man why has few workers, and set about his work with thought; much gets held up for the man sleeping in the morning; wealth is half-won by activity.”

“Washed and fed, a man should ride to the Assembly, though he may not be very well dressed; of his shoes and breeches no man should be ashamed, nor of his horse, though he doesn’t have a good one.”

“Every man wise in counsel should use his power in moderation; for when he mingles with the brave he finds that no one is boldest of all.”

“No man is completely wretched, even if he has bad luck; one man is blessed with sons, another with kinsmen, another has enough money, another feels good from his deeds.”

“The lame man rides a horse, the handless man drives a herd, the deaf man fights and succeeds; to be blind is better than to be burnt: a corpse is of no use to anyone.”

“The man who knows nothing does not know this: that many are fooled by money; one man is rich, another is not rich, he should not be blamed for that.”

“No man should ever reproach another for being in love; often the wise man is seized, when the foolish man is not, by a desire-arousing appearance.”

“The mind alone knows what lies near the heart, he is alone with his spirit: no sickness is worse for the sensible man than to find no contentment in anything.”

“if you’ve a friend, one whom you trust well, go see him often; for brushwood grows, and tall grass, on the road which no man treads.”

“he is no true friend who only says pleasant things.”

“no man is so good that he has no blemish, nor so bad that he is good for nothing.”

‪“Heard you laying into the criminals again there, Colin. The vandals got to your car again?”‬