Slow Havamal: 5
Apr. 28th, 2021 09:17 pm
In the fifth verse, we learn that a man should be wise if he plans to wander far, for a life spent at home will always be easier. If he sits among wise men and has nothing to say, he will only be laughed at.
This verse strikes me as a classic challenge of the guardian. A salty old fellow who sits beside the bridge (maybe with a wide brim hat) warns you off, saying, “Best stick with what you know, boy. Don’t go makin’ a fool of yourself.” Yet he does nothing to prevent you from crossing. It’s up to the traveler to think twice. His worth is questioned, the fear of arrogance planted, and he must find the middle ground between the two, and the courage to proceed.
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