Heroic Vow/Quotes

"I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:"

"To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art."

"I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone."

"I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion."

"But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts."

"I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art."

"In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves."

"All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal."

"If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."

- Hippocratic Oath

"King Svein said: "I know that it is customary at celebrations such as this for men to make vows as to increase their renown. And since you Vikings of Jom are famed in all lands it is likely that your vows will surpass all others. Now I shall make the beginning: I vow that I shall have driven King Aethelred of England from his kingdom before the beginning of next winter or else have slain him and thus obtained his kingdom. Now it is your turn, Sigvaldi. And make your vow not less.""

"Sigvaldi said it should be so. "Sire, I make the vow that before three years have passed I shall have harried in Norway with such forces as I have, and have driven Earl Hákon out of his land or killed him, or else have fallen myself.""

- Saga of the Jomsvikings