60 Viking quotes about friendship
Here are 60 Viking quotes that focus on the theme of friendship, reflecting the importance of loyalty, trust, and camaraderie in Norse culture:
🤝 Friendship, Trust & Loyalty
"A true friend's heart is a safe haven."
"Friendship multiplies the good of life and divides the evil."
"He who has a faithful friend has a mirror of his soul."
"Beware of the friend who does not support you in your storm."
"Friends do not let each other wander in the dark alone."
"A friend’s eye is a good mirror."
"He is your friend who pushes you nearer to the goal."
"A burden shared is a burden halved."
"The friendship of those we trust is the calmest."
🛡️ True Friends & Character
"A good friend laughs at your stories even when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your troubles even when they're not so bad."
"True friends are those who, when you make a fool of yourself, don't believe that this condition is permanent."
"A man should choose a friend who is better than himself. There are plenty of acquaintances in the world; but very few real friends."
"Good is a faithful friend who laughs at your jokes even when they're not so good, and sympathizes with your problems even when they're not so bad."
"Choose a friend slow and steady, lose them even slower."
"A friend is not known until needed."
"Only a true friend tells you your face is dirty."
⚔️ Honor, Oaths & Responsibility in Friendship
"To his friend a man should bear him as friend, and gift for gift bestow, laughter for laughter let him exchange, but leasing pay for a lie."
"Fear not death for the hour of your doom is set and none may escape it, but cheer the hearts of your friends."
"Be your friend’s true friend. Return gift for gift. Repay laughter with laughter again but betrayal with treachery."
"Never swear false oaths; great and grim is the reward for the breaking of plighted troth."
"Who trusts in a lie or an oath of a liar, buys himself hurt at a heavy price."
"Keep no secrets from your comrade. Secrets sow suspicion. Share your thoughts only with those who can be trusted."
🌍 Wisdom, Companionship & Social Life
"The wary guest who comes to the table speaks sparingly. Listen with ears; learn with eyes. Such is the seeker of knowledge."
"Every man is sociable until a cow invades his garden."
"Old friends are the blessings of one’s later years — half a word conveys one’s meaning."
"One should not ask more than would be thought reasonable from any companion."
"Do not look up to anyone nor down on anyone. Unless it’s to help them up or down."
"There are three things it is best to avoid: a strange dog, a flood, and a man who thinks he is wise."
🔥 Standing by Friends in Life
"Joy shared, joy doubled: sorrow shared, sorrow halved."
"Stand by your friends, in defeat more steadfast than in victory."
"A trusty friend is a strong defense; whoever finds one has found a treasure."
"Without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious."
"Gold is little comfort for the kinsman dead, but a friend is a comfort always."
"Help should be given freely to friends, and generously."
"Of his friends let a man be fond and of his fate still fonder."
"A friend to all is a friend to none."
"He who knows how to be a friend does not die alone."
🏕️ Companionship, Balance & Boundaries
"A small hut of one’s own is better than shared accommodation with a grudge."
"Where you recognize evil, speak out against it, and give your enemies no peace."
"A man can hide all things, except twain — his covetousness, and his friendship."
"When faring on journeys, ward yourself well. Take not a sword to lend to a friend."
"Fire and water are good servants but bad masters."
🌿 Friendship, Life & Meaning
"A good friend is a connection to life – a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world."
"Rich is he who has friends."
"Who seeks a faultless friend remains friendless."
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
"One loyal friend is worth ten thousand relatives."
"A friend’s scorn is harsher than a foe’s sword."
"Long is the road to a friend's house, but step by step, it grows shorter."
"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: he that has found one has found a treasure."
"Be a true-hearted, kind-hearted man; and you will have kind-hearted friends."
🌅 The Spirit of True Friendship
"Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness."
"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures."
"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."
"With a good friend, the hour of sunset is as bright as the hour of sunrise."
"The finest friendships are between those who can do without each other."
