janteloven (the law of jante) is what you might call the general danish philosophy to live by. and apparently it turns 80 years old this year. it comes from a book written by danish-norwegian author aksel sandemose, who, despite being born and dying in denmark, moved to norway for long enough to be deemed norwegian instead of danish. apparently after a stay in denmark he noticed that the following ten "laws" appear to be the general philosophy.
- you shouldn't think you are anything (du skal ikke tro, du er noget.)
- you shouldn't think that you're as much as we are. (du skal ikke tro, at du er lige så meget som os.)
- you shouldn't believe that you're smarter than we are. (du skal ikke tro, at du er klogere end os.)
- you shouldn't kid yourself that you're better than us. (du skal ikke bilde dig ind, at du er bedre end os.)
- you shouldn't believe you know more than us. (du skal ikke tro, at du ved mere end os.)
- you shouldn't believe that you are more than us. (du skal ikke tro, at du er mere end os.)
- you shouldn't believe you're good for anything. (du skal ikke tro, at du dur til noget.)
- you shouldn't laugh at us. (du skal ikke le ad os.)
- you shouldn't believe that anyone likes you. (du skal ikke tro, at nogen bryder sig om dig.)
- you shouldn't think you can teach us anything. (du skal ikke tro, at du kan lære os noget.)
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a fragment begun 11/5.2013 and never published. unfinished thoughts. growing dusty among my drafts.
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