Words and Worth

“So no man can call Himself wise, ere he’s aged A deal of years in this world. The wise must be patient, Not too impulsive, Not too hasty of word, Nor too weak a warrior, Nor too recklessly wild, Nor too fearful, too hopeful, Nor too greedy for gifts, Nor too ready to boast, Before he knows clearly. A man shall abide Before he speaks oaths, Until proud-hearted He sees clearly Where the intent Of his heart will tend.” - The Wanderer

"With presents friends should please each other, With a shield or a costly coat: Mutual giving makes for friendship, So long as life goes well, A man should be loyal through life to friends, To them and to friends of theirs, But never shall a man make offer Of friendship to his foes.

A man should be loyal through life to friends, And return gift for gift, Laugh when they laugh, but with lies repay A false foe who lies.

If you find a friend you fully trust And wish for his good-will, exchange thoughts, exchange gifts, Go often to his house.

If you deal with another you don't trust But wish for his good-will, Be fair in speech but false in thought And give him lie for lie.

Even with one you ill-trust And doubt what he means to do, False words with fair smiles May get you the gift you desire.

To a false friend the footpath winds Though his house be on the highway. To a sure friend there is a short cut, Though he live a long way off." - The Havamal

There was an age when we were our deeds, when a man’s word was his bond. He did what he meant, and meant what he said. Honour. Loyalty. Brotherhood. Peace-keeping (when applicable) and oath-swearing were considered a mans duty, as well as his right, and he upheld it as both an unspoken and literal extension of his honor. Why did it change? Was it considered all the more profitable to steal from your poorer neighbor instead of feeding him, instead of lending a hand? Political and social changes over time have watered down and devalued a mans place in society, and have even changed the very idea of what it means to be a part of "society" in general. One thing is for certain, we will never be able to build a community based on honor, on integrity, if we first cannot keep our word and our worth intact.

What does your word mean to you?

- J. Aubill