Ever wondered what kinds of sayings and expressions were used in the Viking Age? The medieval sagas written in Iceland capture a wealth of intriguing phrases that offer a glimpse into Norse culture. Here, we present 50 of our favourite Viking-Age sayings that reveal the wisdom and wit of the time.
“The king’s palace is an easy place to enter but hard to leave.” ~ Egil’s Saga
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“Mind you don’t agree today to what you’ll regret tomorrow.” ~ Bandamanna saga
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” ~ Njáls saga
“True as daylight.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“Word travels once it leaves the mouth.” ~ Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
“Women’s counsel is often cold.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Ale makes another man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“For a hungry wolf is bound to wage a hard battle.” ~ The Saga of the People of Laxardal
“Short is the life of the proud.” ~ Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi
”The shorter the sword the greater the need to find a vital joint.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
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“As they say, a tree doesn’t fall at the first blow.” ~ Njáls saga
“One oath broken doesn’t destroy all others.” ~ The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardale People
“The fish would bite on the hook now if we had the strength to drag it in.” ~ Fóstbræðra saga
“Bare is the back of a brotherless man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“The king has many ears.” ~ Orkneyinga saga
“Early lessons last the longest.” ~ The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
“Someone who loses his gloves cannot be happy even if he gets another pair.” ~ Svarfdæla saga
“Now I took three steps too few.” ~ Egil’s Saga
“Many eyes squint when there’s money around.” ~ Bandamanna saga
“He’d better take care that his tongue doesn’t twist itself around his neck.” ~ Njáls saga
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“You wag your tongue as a fox waves his tail.” ~ Saga of Havard of Isafjord
“That what happens to most others will happen to you.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“It’s difficult to dwell in a distant land.” ~ Njáls saga
“The risk in words is that they may come to seem hasty.” ~ Bandamanna saga
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“The treachery of a friend is worse than that of a foe.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Everyone has a friend among enemies.” ~ The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet
“Festivals are a time of fortune.” ~ The Saga of the People of Laxardal
“The more journeys you make, the more directions they take.” ~ Egil’s Saga
“There is more honour in accumulating little by little than in reaching for the sky and ending up flat on your face.” ~ The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal
“The longer the vengeance is drawn out, the more satisfying it will be.” ~ Ljósvetninga saga
“The fool is busy in everyone’s business but his own.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“There is a great difference in what men are born into the world for and what they become known for.” ~ Kjalnesinga saga
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“He who gives warning is not at fault.” ~ Njáls saga
“Wisdom comes to a fool in hindsight.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
“Not every cloud which darkens the day brings rain.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“The fire seems hottest to a burned man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“It’s better to be betrayed than to trust no one.” ~ Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
“The seller is always better off than the buyer.” ~ Svarfdæla saga
“The words of a weakling are worthless.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“The older a man, the feebler.” ~ Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi
“Eyes will tell who loveth well.” ~ The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
“More people prefer the worse side of a story which has two versions.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“This proves, as so often before, that anger is blind to the truth.” ~ Fóstbræðra saga
“If you mean well, your deeds will praise themselves, but if you mean evil, they will be self-condemning.” ~ Njáls saga
“Many a man becomes brave in dire straits.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“There´s no slaying a man destined to live.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“The sleeping man seldom gains victory.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
“Bad things come from bad plans.” ~ Njáls saga
“Whatever is meant to happen will happen.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Tend the oak if you want to live under it.” ~ Egil’s Saga
You can find these sayings, plus many more, on the Concordance Project website from the University of Saskatchewan
Ever wondered what kinds of sayings and expressions were used in the Viking Age? The medieval sagas written in Iceland capture a wealth of intriguing phrases that offer a glimpse into Norse culture. Here, we present 50 of our favourite Viking-Age sayings that reveal the wisdom and wit of the time.
“The king’s palace is an easy place to enter but hard to leave.” ~ Egil’s Saga
“Mind you don’t agree today to what you’ll regret tomorrow.” ~ Bandamanna saga
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” ~ Njáls saga
“True as daylight.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“Word travels once it leaves the mouth.” ~ Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
“Women’s counsel is often cold.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Ale makes another man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“For a hungry wolf is bound to wage a hard battle.” ~ The Saga of the People of Laxardal
“Short is the life of the proud.” ~ Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi
”The shorter the sword the greater the need to find a vital joint.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
“As they say, a tree doesn’t fall at the first blow.” ~ Njáls saga
“One oath broken doesn’t destroy all others.” ~ The Saga of Bjorn, Champion of the Hitardale People
“The fish would bite on the hook now if we had the strength to drag it in.” ~ Fóstbræðra saga
“Bare is the back of a brotherless man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“The king has many ears.” ~ Orkneyinga saga
“Early lessons last the longest.” ~ The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
“Someone who loses his gloves cannot be happy even if he gets another pair.” ~ Svarfdæla saga
“Now I took three steps too few.” ~ Egil’s Saga
“Many eyes squint when there’s money around.” ~ Bandamanna saga
“He’d better take care that his tongue doesn’t twist itself around his neck.” ~ Njáls saga
“You wag your tongue as a fox waves his tail.” ~ Saga of Havard of Isafjord
“That what happens to most others will happen to you.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“It’s difficult to dwell in a distant land.” ~ Njáls saga
“The risk in words is that they may come to seem hasty.” ~ Bandamanna saga
“The treachery of a friend is worse than that of a foe.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Everyone has a friend among enemies.” ~ The Saga of Hallfred the Troublesome Poet
“Festivals are a time of fortune.” ~ The Saga of the People of Laxardal
“The more journeys you make, the more directions they take.” ~ Egil’s Saga
“There is more honour in accumulating little by little than in reaching for the sky and ending up flat on your face.” ~ The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal
“The longer the vengeance is drawn out, the more satisfying it will be.” ~ Ljósvetninga saga
“The fool is busy in everyone’s business but his own.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“There is a great difference in what men are born into the world for and what they become known for.” ~ Kjalnesinga saga
“He who gives warning is not at fault.” ~ Njáls saga
“Wisdom comes to a fool in hindsight.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
“Not every cloud which darkens the day brings rain.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“The fire seems hottest to a burned man.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“It’s better to be betrayed than to trust no one.” ~ Saga of the People of Fljotsdal
“The seller is always better off than the buyer.” ~ Svarfdæla saga
“The words of a weakling are worthless.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“The older a man, the feebler.” ~ Saga of Hrafnkel Frey’s Godi
“Eyes will tell who loveth well.” ~ The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue
“More people prefer the worse side of a story which has two versions.” ~ Grettir’s Saga
“This proves, as so often before, that anger is blind to the truth.” ~ Fóstbræðra saga
“If you mean well, your deeds will praise themselves, but if you mean evil, they will be self-condemning.” ~ Njáls saga
“Many a man becomes brave in dire straits.” ~ Saga of the People of Eyri
“There´s no slaying a man destined to live.” ~ Heiðarvíga saga
“The sleeping man seldom gains victory.” ~ Vápnfirðinga saga
“Bad things come from bad plans.” ~ Njáls saga
“Whatever is meant to happen will happen.” ~ Gisli’s Saga
“Tend the oak if you want to live under it.” ~ Egil’s Saga
You can find these sayings, plus many more, on the Concordance Project website from the University of Saskatchewan
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