3 translations are aligned to this passage.
A witless man, when he meets with men,Had best in silence abide;For no one shall find that nothing he knows,If his mouth is not open too much.(But a man knows not, if nothing he knows,When his mouth has been open too much.)A foolish man,who among people comes,had best be silent;for no one knowsthat he knows nothing,unless he talks to much.He who previously knew nothingwill still know nothingtalk he ever so much.For the unwise man ‘tis best to be mutewhen he comes amid the crowd,for none is aware of his lack of witif he wastes not too many words;for he who lacks wit shall never learnthough his words flow ne’er so fast.Hávamál, translated by Henry Adams Bellows, in The Poetic Edda (1923). Public-domain transcription sourced from Project Gutenberg ebook 73533.
Hail to the giver! a guest has come; Where shall the stranger sit? Swift shall he be who with swords shall try The proof of his might to ma…
Read passage →Water and towels and welcoming speech Should he find who comes to the feast; If renown he would get, and again be greeted, Wisely and well…
Read passage →A man shall not boast of his keenness of mind, But keep it close in his breast; To the silent and wise does ill come seldom When he goes as…
Read passage →The knowing guest who goes to the feast, In silent attention sits; With his ears he hears, with his eyes he watches, Thus wary are wise men…
Read passage →Only you can see these notes.
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