I’ve been reading some Old Norse poems from the Elder Edda, YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU DO. My favorite so far are from Sayings of the High One, which is basically an advice column penned by Odin the God of War and also star of American Gods him very self. He’s gruff, practical, amicable, and definitely thinks you should eat before you hang out with friends so that you’re not starving.
Some personal favorites:
A stupid man stays awake all night pondering his problems; he’s worn out when morning comes and whatever was, still is.
Moderately wise a man should be — don’t wish for too much wisdom; a man’s heart is seldom happy if he is truly wise.
A man does well to eat a hearty meal before he visits friends, or he sits around glumly acting starved and finds words for very few.
Get up early if you are after another man’s life or money; a sleeping wolf will seldom make a kill nor a warrior win lying down.
Drink ale by the fireside, skate on the ice, buy lean steeds and bloodstained swords, fatten horses in the stable, a dog in your home. Never trust what a maiden tells you nor count any woman constant; their hearts are turned on a potter’s wheel.
I TOTALLY AGREE ODIN, YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.
….NO WAIT ACTUALLY I JUST CHANGED MY MIND.