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“A gift always looks for a gift in return, and laughter is answered with laughter; friends should meet each other with open hands and open hearts.”

Friendship is built on reciprocity — kindness, gifts, and warmth given should be returned in kind.

— Traditional Faroese Wisdom, Faroe Islands

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, stanza circa 41-42 — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

More about Traditional Faroese Wisdom →·More Proverbs from Faroe Islands →

More Proverbs from Faroe Islands

“Cattle die, kinsmen die, and you yourself will die; but the good name of a man who has earned it never dies.”

A person's reputation and honorable deeds outlive their physical life.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, stanza 76-77 — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

“Fire is needed by the one who comes in chilled to the knee; food and dry clothes are needed by the man who has fared over the mountain.”

Hospitality toward a weary traveler — warmth, food, and shelter — is a basic duty.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, opening guest-stanzas — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

“A man should be middle-wise, never overly clever; the fairest life is led by those who know a fitting amount.”

Excessive cleverness brings restlessness; balanced, modest wisdom brings a calmer and happier life.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, stanza circa 54-56 — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

“No better burden can a man carry on the road than much common sense; it is worth more than silver in a strange place.”

Practical wisdom serves a traveler better than any wealth, especially far from home.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, stanza circa 10-11 — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

“An unwise man who holds his tongue among strangers may pass for wise, for silence brings no man to shame.”

Staying quiet in unfamiliar company can hide one's ignorance, while speaking too freely reveals it.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Havamal (Sayings of the High One), Poetic Edda, stanza circa 27 — Old Norse wisdom poem, part of the shared Norse heritage from which Faroese language and culture directly descend, public domain

“Better late than never.”

Doing something after a delay is still better than never doing it at all.

Traditional Faroese Wisdom

Source: Traditional Scandinavian/Germanic proverb, shared North Atlantic oral heritage also current in Faroese folk speech, public-domain oral tradition

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