150+ Hávamál Quotes

150+ Hávamál Quotes, The Hávamál, or “Sayings of the High One,” is a collection of Old Norse poems attributed to Odin, offering timeless wisdom on life, honor, friendship, and resilience.

These ancient Viking proverbs provide deep insights into personal growth, leadership, and survival—principles that remain relevant today. In this post, we’ve compiled 150+ Hávamál quotes to inspire and guide you, whether you seek wisdom for daily life or a deeper understanding of Norse philosophy.

Let’s dive into the words of Odin and uncover the secrets of the Viking way of life.

All 164 Stanzas Hávamál Quotes

At every doorway ere one enters one should spy round for uncertain is the knowing when foes might be sitting
Hail to the giver a guest has come where shall he sit
Fire is needed by the newcomer whose knees are frozen numb water too that he may wash and a warm seat by the hearth
Clothes and a spear are needed by him who has fared o’er the fells food too for the way and a welcoming hand
Wits are needed by him who travels far at home all is easy a laughing-stock is he who knows naught and sits among the wise
Let no man glory in the greatness of his mind but rather keep watch over his wits
The wary guest who comes to the feast listens well and keeps silent much he ponders with ears and eyes he learns
Happy is he who wins praise and liking for himself more sure is what he knows than the judgment of others
Happy is he who has in himself praise and wisdom in life for oft does a man get ill counsel from another’s breast
No better burden can a man bear on the road than a store of common sense and no worse than too much drink
No better burden they say is borne on the way than a shrewd wit yet ale leads oft to folly when drunk to excess
Less good than they say is the drinking of ale for the more he drinks the less he knows of his own mind
The heron of forgetfulness hovers over ale-drinking steals a man’s mind till he knows not what he says
Drunk I was I was over-drunk at that cunning Fjalar’s little wisdom I gained from too much mead
Silence becomes the son of a king to be silent but brave in battle it fits a man to be merry and glad till his day of death
A coward thinks he will live forever if he avoids the fight but old age gives him no peace though spears may spare him
The fool stares when he comes to a feast with nothing to say a draught might loosen his tongue but oft he spills his folly
He alone knows who has wandered wide and seen much of men what wit and wisdom guide the minds of those he meets
Hold not the cup but drink in measure nor let thy tongue run free a fool is he who speaks too much where no one bids him talk
The glutton eats to his own harm unless he has some sense shame comes to him who gorges till he’s sick
Cattle know when to go home and leave the grazing field a fool never knows his fill nor when to cease his greed
A wretched man with an evil mind mocks all he sees yet knows not his own flaws that others see too well
The unwise man lies awake all night pondering everything weary he grows and no wiser when morn comes round
A fool thinks all who smile at him are his friends he sees not the scorn behind their grins
A fool thinks all who smile at him are his friends when he sits with the wise he finds his folly plain
The unwise man thinks he knows all if he sits safe in a corner but when asked he stammers and knows not what to say
He thinks himself wise who can question well and answer back but a fool among the wise speaks all his mind
Wise he is thought who can ask and answer well if he hides not what he knows from men
Too many words bring a man to folly unless he curbs his tongue he earns scorn who speaks without end
No man should mock another when he visits friends many a one knows what all should heed yet fails to guard his tongue
He seems wise who leaves the feast when guests begin to quarrel a man who mocks may find foes where friends once sat
Many men are foes though they smile at the feast for oft do kinsmen clash when pride stirs the heart
Early should a man take his meal unless he visits elsewhere a guest grows dull who sits unfed or begs too soon
A crooked road leads to a false friend though he dwell nearby better a foe thou knowest than a friend who hides his heart
Go thou must no guest shall sit forever in one place welcome wears thin when a man overstays his time
A farm of thy own is better though it be small for every man is master at home a bleeding heart has he with no bread to eat
A farm of thy own is better though it be small two goats and a poor roof are better than begging alms
Never step far from thy weapons for unsure is the need of a spear a man may want on the wide road
I never found a man so generous that he would not take a gift nor one so free with wealth that he scorned a reward
With wealth won use it well and share with friends for oft does gold slip away when hoarded tight
Friends should gladden friends with arms and garments gifts given and taken make friendship last
Be a friend to thy friend and repay gift with gift so too repay a foe with the ill he dealt thee
To his friend a man should be a friend and to his friend’s friend too but to a foe’s friend no man should give trust
If thou hast a friend thou trustest well go oft to see him for weeds grow thick and brushwood high on a path untrod
If thou hast one thou trustest not yet wouldst get good from him speak him fair but think him false and match guile with guile
So too with him thou trustest not and whose mind thou fearest ill repay his malice with mischief in thy heart
Once I was young and wandered alone then I found another rich I grew with a comrade’s cheer for man is man’s delight
The brave and generous live the best lives seldom do they harbor woe but the coward fears all and the niggard mourns his gifts
My cloak I gave in a field to two wooden men they thought themselves fine when clad the naked are shamed
The pine wastes away that stands alone on a withered heath so fares a man with no love nor friends
Hotter than fire burns friendship five days among false men on the sixth it cools and kinship fades
No great thing needs a man to give oft a little gift wins praise better with a trifle than nothing at all
A little sand has a little sea a little wit fills a little mind few among men are wholly wise
Moderately wise should a man be not too wise or witty the fairest life has he who knows not too much
Moderately wise should a man be not too wise or witty too wise a man is seldom happy with all he knows
Moderately wise should a man be not too wise or witty he knows not his fate who sees too far ahead
Flame feeds on flame and man on man’s words so wisdom spreads from mouth to ear
Early must he rise who would take another’s life or wealth the wolf that sleeps wins no meat nor the man who lies abed
Early must he rise who has few to work for him himself must tend his fields or lose his daily bread
Of dry logs and roofing bark a man should know the measure and how many days he’ll live with the wood he has
Washed and fed let a man ride to the Thing though his clothes be poor better shamed for shoes than shunned for want
The hawk gazes where he flies over the sea the eagle screams with hunger gnawing his heart
Ask thou must and answer well if wise thou wouldst be called few know all yet seem to know much
The wise guest uses power with care nor stirs too much strife he fares best who tempers his might
A man must watch his words for oft he gets ill reward from what he says to friend or foe
Too early to many homes I came too late to some the ale was drunk or yet unbrewed my timing oft was wrong
Here and there they welcomed me had I need of food yet some gave less when I asked for more
Fire is best for the sons of men and the sight of the sun health too if a man can keep it and a life without shame
Not all is ill though a man be sick a son brings joy wisdom honor and wealth are good health better still
Better to live than be dead only the living enjoy a blind man fares better than one burned on the pyre
A limping man can ride a handless man can herd a deaf man can fight and win better alive than dead
A son is better though born late after a man is gone wealth may vanish but kin endure
Two are foes to one a lying tongue and a faithless friend oft they bring a man to grief
He knows who knows the road that fares by night two mouths one heart oft bring deceit
He knows who knows much yet lacks in wit oft repeats the little he grasps
Cattle die kinsmen die thyself too shalt die but fame never dies for him who earns it well
Cattle die kinsmen die thyself too shalt die one thing never dies the doom of the dead
Full-stocked folds I saw at a rich man’s sons now he begs with a staff wealth is fleeting as a hawk’s flight
The unwise man grows proud with wealth or a woman’s love then folly takes him and he falls
What thou hast tried thou mayst trust runes on a stone or words from the wise but test them first
Praise the day at evening a woman when she’s burned a sword when tried a maid when wed
Hew wood in wind row out in fine weather court a maid in darkness for night hides many flaws
Let a man seek his love with fair words and gifts but leave her be when the time is done
No man should trust a maiden’s words nor what a woman says their hearts turn like a wheel on a wobbling axle
A creaking bow a burning flame a gaping wolf a croaking crow trust not these nor a woman’s faith
A crashing wave a coiling snake a faithless friend a breaking ice trust not these nor a woman’s bed
A brother’s killer a half-burned house a horse too swift trust not these nor a woman’s love
Trust not the field sown too soon nor a son too young time proves both field and child
If thou kill thy brother’s slayer seek not peace too soon foes lurk still in a wounded clan
Love of a faithless woman is like driving an unshod horse over ice or sailing rudderless in a storm
I speak plainly now for I know both men lie to women and women to men fair words hide false hearts
Fairly must a man speak to win a woman’s love gifts and flattery sway her fleeting heart
Mock not a man for falling in love it strikes the wise as well as fools
Only he knows who has suffered it the pain of love in his heart none else can judge
The heart alone knows the love it holds none can see within another’s breast
I loved a maid when young I was her laughter won me yet I went not to her
Billing’s daughter I found in bed fair and shining as the sun she lured me near
Come at evening she bade me then her beauty held me fast yet I left her still
Near her house I lingered long her kinsmen woke and found me not
False she proved when I sought her love fair words hid a fickle heart
Home I went with my tale untold wiser now in women’s ways
Many a fair maid when known is fickle toward men their love turns cold when tried
I sought the old giant now I am back little I gained by silence many words won my way
In I crept to Suttung’s hall fair Gunnlod sat on a golden seat
Gunnlod gave me on a golden seat a draught of precious mead poor was my payment to her true heart
Rati’s mouth bored a way through stone and won me the mead giants’ blood I spilled
Over and under I wove my way the giants’ guard I tricked little they gained from me
The mead I bore from the mountain’s heart with guile I won what strength could not
The wise one’s drink now flows among men Odin’s craft brought it forth
Little I trust that I left unharmed the giants’ wrath I stirred with my theft
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir take my advice profit thou wilt if thou hearest heed my words
Rise early if thou wouldst kill a foe or win his wealth the wolf that sleeps wins no meat
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir never sleep with a witch her charms may bind thy heart
Let not a sorceress sit at thy table nor enchant thy mind with her spells
Never seduce another’s wife with whispers in her ear shame comes to him who strays
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir climb not high at night lest foes or frost take thee
Tell not a bad man thy misfortune for he’ll give thee no good only grief
A bad woman’s words can wound a man to death her tongue cuts deeper than a blade
If thou find a friend thou trustest well give him gifts and go oft to his hall
If thou meet a foe thou wouldst harm speak him fair but plot his fall
Be not the first to break with a friend once parted the breach grows wide
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir quarrel not with a fool his words waste breath and time
No good comes from a wicked man though thou share his hearth
Friendship thrives on give and take like hand washes hand
Curse not a guest nor drive him from thy door better he sit than seek thy harm
Stout heart is needed when a guest turns foe better to fight than flee
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir call evil what it is and give foes no peace
Rejoice not over a fallen foe till thou knowest his kin are quelled
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir swear not false oaths the gods punish perjury swift
A wise man bends like a reed in wind harsh words he turns aside
Be wary but not too wary of ale and another’s wife wisdom lies in measure
Mock not the guest nor the wanderer at thy gate oft the ragged hide the wise
Two tongues talk where one should suffice oft they tangle truth
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir heed not an old man’s prattle wisdom wanes with age
Drive not a beggar from thy door nor curse the poor who ask
Strong must the bar be that bolts the door against the foes without
I counsel thee Loddfáfnir give heed to this a guest may bear thy doom
I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights
Wounded with a spear given to Odin myself to myself on that tree no man knows its roots
No bread they gave me nor drink from a horn I peered down below
I took up the runes screaming I took them then fell back thence
Nine mighty songs I learned from the son of Bolthorn Bestla’s sire
A drink I took of the precious mead scooped from Odrerir’s hold
Then I grew and waxed in wisdom words from words gave birth
Deeds from deeds grew great my skill the runes revealed their might
Songs I know that kings’ wives know not nor men born of men
I know a song to heal the sick if I sing it well help it brings
I know a song to free a man from bonds chains fall from his wrists
I know a song to turn aside a foe’s spear in battle’s heat
I know a song to make a foe’s weapon turn against him sharp edge dulled
I know a song to blunt my foe’s blade in battle none can strike me
I know a song to calm the wind and sea the storm bends to my will
I know a song to bind a witch her spells turn back on her
I know a song to call the dead to speak their wisdom wakes
I know a song to shield my friends in fight no harm shall find them
I know a song to sway a maiden’s heart her love turns to me alone
I know a song to steal a foe’s wit his mind grows dark and weak
I know a song to guard a house no fire nor foe shall break it
I know a song to loose all locks no bar can hold me in
I know a song to heal a wound blood stanches at my word
I know a song to quell all hate foes clasp hands in peace
I know a song to see afar what lies o’er hill and sea
I know a song sung by Thrud’s kin might and mirth it brings
Now are sung the High One’s songs in the hall of the wise none knows them all but heeds them well

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Emma Thompson

Hi, I'm Emma Thompson, founder of MyLittleDesire. I share relationship advice, love quotes, and thoughtful gift ideas to help you express your feelings and strengthen your bonds. Let's celebrate love together!

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150+ Hávamál Quotes