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Old English Wisdom
If you seek happiness, master the art of patience, for this is half the battle. Durham Proverbs
Every man has his fate set before him; have your spirit prepared to withstand the oncoming forces. The Wanderer
It will soon become clear when your breath is being wasted on another, do not share your gifts with those who are undeserving.
When your goblet is filled to the brim tread carefully.
The voices of our greatest teachers are always available for council should you call upon them.
Hope is the driftwood that will prevent you from drowning in sorrow hold on to stay afloat.
Secrets shall be uncovered and lies will be harshly repaid
Let the goal of your speech be truth
Necessity is a harsh but powerful teacher, no mighty blade is forged without pressure and heat
The sailor should be at sea the warrior on the battlefield and the scholar in the library
Drinking mead only leaves you with a greater thirst, we are seldom satisfied by the external
A leader of men must show bravery when facing the perils of this world so that his followers may share in his valor
Every day decide to follow where courage may lead,
Do not allow the darkness of your past to blacken the light shining before you
The quiet whispers from the heart guide us to what's important if you cannot hear them you will go astray
The seemingly innocent behavior of drunken folly has led man into trouble for centuries be cautious not to make the same misstep
Anger will often try to take the helm of your being cast it aside lest it becomes your master
Do not be too quick to rejoice nor to despair, keep a firm hand on your emotions until circumstances are fully brought to light
That gained by deception is seldom cherished
Be on a continuous journey of discovery, do not cease in your quest for wisdom
When good fortune abandons you your gained insights shall not
Though you may be praised by the crowd do not be too quick to believe them
The more you try to defend your case the less people will believe you
It is a mark of the wise who spends more time talking about the good others have done than their own achievements
Do not argue with stubborn people, many are well versed in speech but not in wisdom
Troubled is he who rose upstream
Old English literature is filled with statements about how one should live their life. From religious texts to business advice, warrior codes and even cautionary phrases about mead drinking. There was clearly a reverence towards education and wise people during those times.
The great Anglo Saxon King Alfred was renowned for his wisdom and had various religious and philosophical texts translated into to English. He believed his kingdom had gone into decline when it came to education and sort to restore it and push his people even further. He was considered to be an expert counsellor and is said to have created his own collection of proverbs which have been cited in "The Owl and The Nightingale."
I created these videos after reading a range of maxims and proverbs from the Anglo Saxon period. I extracted the lessons to create 25 rules for life. A reimagining of the texts for a modern audience. I hope you enjoy this insight into the wisdom of Old England.
Sources:
The Durham Proverbs
The proverbs are considered to have been used to document everyday business of the people of Anglo-Saxon England.
The Exeter Book
This is the largest (and perhaps oldest) known collection of Old English poetry/literature still in existence.
Written by us.
Voice-over by: Nicky Rebelo
Music: Voice of an Angel 3 Alexander Nakarada
Voice of an Angel 2 Alexander Nakarada
Further reading: A Clerk of Oxford - Old English Wisdom
Subscribe for more original motivational content: Red Frost Motivation
Norse Wisdom
Be a person of worldly intelligence if you desire to sit with kings, the man who only carries the limited scope of his village will be a laughingstock
Travel far and wide and you shall possess the secrets of man
When fear leads the way the destination is never glorious
As one candle can light another so too can greatness of mind be transferred amongst men, to remain in solitude is to deprive oneself of this kindling
Take care with your speech, it can be the catalyst for many needless problems, you never know who could be lending an ear to your ramblings
If you desire to claim a place in the world arise early, the slothful wolf starves and the sleeping man rarely sees victory
Understand that a storm can change its course without warning, always be prepared to brave a storm
Defeat your enemies in the fields before they reach your house
No matter how cautiously you live there is no escaping the fatal clutches of old age, so then better to join the fray and fight proudly for something worth obtaining
A good friend speaks truly and from the heart, the one whose speech is always pleasant cannot be trusted
What will be etched into history about your life, what legend will be left long after you're gone, how have you made this world better, ponder these questions daily
There is always a sage wiser and a warrior bolder than yourself, be careful not to become too comfortable
Boastful thinking and exclamations of one's brilliance attracts misfortune into one's life, live humbly with quiet confidence and troubles will rarely beset you
Enemies often lurk in the shadows around corners, it would be wise to check them before venturing forth on your path
Moderate yourself ruthlessly, allowing greed to consume you will bring nothing but sorrow
The critical man is quick to point the finger and causes much dismay amongst others, he is unknowing that he too shares in their faults
Lying awake in the night battling with ill thoughts offers no solutions, you rise unrested and in no better position than before
No matter if your dwelling is a fragile shack of sticks and mud it is valuable to have a home, nothing crushes a man's spirit more than having to beg
Joyous is he who shares in his riches, the coward hordes and lives in fear, rarely delighting in the fortune that seldom comes his way
Do not be ashamed of having simple clothing, pay more attention to your hygiene and demeanor
Do not be fooled by money, it makes the most unreliable friend
Give praise for each day regardless of what fate brings
When the winds are harsh one should chop wood, in fair weather row out to sea, in the romantic glow of candlelight passionately talk with a woman
Use a ship for travel, a shield for defense and a sword for striking, everything has its time and place
Common sense is your best friend
These life rules are based on the Hávamál, a collection of old Norse poems from the Viking age. Legend tells us that they were written by the deity Odin himself. There are 8 poems in total each covering different areas. The short verses teach us about love, travelling, manhood and daily living. I have extracted the lessons from this text to write 24 original rules for life.
The poems of the Hávamál include: Wisdom for Wanderers and Counsel to Guests, Maxims for All Men, Lessons for Lovers, Odin's Love Quests, Odin's Quest after the Song Mead, The Counselling of the Stray-Singer, Odin's Quest after the Runes and The Song of Spells
Read the Hávamál here: https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/havamal....
Narrated by Nicky Rebelo
Music: Viking Sword by Marcus Bressler
Iohannes 260123/9
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