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Hávamál, The Saying of Odin, Stanza 28
Hail and welcome! This is Huginn's Heathen Hof, with your Daily Hávamál.
Original-
Fróðr sá þykkisk
er fregna kann
ok segja hit sama
eyvitu leyna
megu ýta synir
því er gengr of guma
Translation-
The wise man knows
how to ask questions,
and how to answer intelligently.
He knows that once a secret
is spoken aloud
it is difficult to conceal it again.
-Hávamál: Stanza 28
The Germanic philosophers at the time of the Hávamál placed an extraordinary emphasis on critical thinking. The wise man knows how to ask questions. Investigate. Research. Don't just take somebody's word on something, find out for yourself. In an age where we are constantly bombarded by media outlets that try to tell us what to believe, this virtue of our tradition is more important than ever.
The wise man knows how to answer intelligently. This isn't about having the right answer, or being a scholar, it's about how we handle new information. When a fool is confronted with new information that would prove his assumptions wrong, they will simply refuse to listen. Sometimes they'll even attack the people who are trying to help teach them. The wise man will take the new information, consider it, investigate it, and ADAPT.
Today's "Daily Hávamál" was brought to you by Huginn's Heathen Hof.
