“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud”
Sophocles
The Asatru moral code of conduct is known as the Nine Noble Virtues of Asatru. The Nine Noble Virtues represent the distilled wisdom and ancient Germanic moral.
I. Courage. In the pursuit of the Gods one must be courageous. One must be bold and one must be willing to take risks. Only the brave are rewarded in this world by transcending fear. Cowards die, but the brave live forever.
II. Truth. Like the Gods we are relentless in our quest for true knowledge. We are willing to sacrifice for it, and willing to accept it. This Virtue is not only one of seeking, but one of acting. Be true to others, and above all, be true to thyself.
III. Honor. Everything can be taken away from you. The Gods, Forces of Nature, and other Human Beings will gladly strip you of what is yours. But despite this, there is one thing that can never be taken away from you. That thing is Honor.
IV. Fidelity. Loyalty to Your Brothers and Sisters precedes all other human relationships in this world. Bonds of Loyalty are not broken without causing a chain of events which have an ultimately detrimental effect on both parties.
V. Discipline. The will is chaotic and must be forced to conform to the higher authority of the self. Having discipline means having the freedom to choose one’s own actions. Not having discipline means to fall victim to the whims of instincts and reactions.
VI. Hospitality. While solitude is important, so is community and building strong relationships with others. This is implemented on both a person-to-person level and in groups of more than two people.
VII. Self-Reliance. We seek to do on our own what is within our capacity to do. The Gods only give to us what is theirs to give. All other things we have to seek out for ourselves.
VIII. Industriousness. Nothing worthwhile in this world is earned through idleness and laziness. However, we do not work simply to do it and keep ourselves busy. Being industrious builds character, but also builds honorable forms of wealth. It is an essential pillar to Virtue.
IX. Perseverance. The hardest times are those which ultimately lead us down new paths and take us to the next level. We openly ask the world to throw itself at us so that we may take the path least taken. In struggle we flourish. We always find a way to come through.
Bible Verse
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Philippians 4:8 NLT
Additional Reading
Nine Noble Virtues by Jason King Godwise
Points of Reflection
“If you are not noble in your thoughts and actions, no title awarded by any king or queen can make you so.”
E.A. Bucchianeri, Vocation of a Gadfly
“He who lives without discipline dies without honor.”
Icelandic Prover