Janteloven

In 1933 the Danish writer Aksel Sandemose wrote a novel called "A refugee crosses his tracks". It takes place in an imaginary town called Jante (based on Sandemose's own hometown, Nykøbing Mors) in which the Jante Law clearly dictates the social and moral standards. This law reflects a very unattractive part of the Danish mentality and is often referred to when someone is describing the Danes.

Janteloven (The Jante Law) by Aksel Sandemose (translated by Anja and Torben):

1. Du skal ikke tro at du er noget. (You shall not think that you are special.)

2. Du skal ikke tro at du er lige så meget som os. ( You shall not think that you are of the same standing as us.)

3. Du skal ikke tro at du er klogere end os. (You shall not think that you are smarter than us.)

4. Du skal ikke bilde dig ind at du er bedre end os. (Don't fancy yourself as being better than us.)

5. Du skal ikke tro at du ved mere end os. (You shall not think that you know more than us.)

6. Du skal ikke tro at du er mere end os. (You shall not think that you are more important than us.)

7. Du skal ikke tro at du duer til noget. (You shall not think that you are good at anything.)

8. Du skal ikke le af os. (You shall not laugh at us.)

9. Du skal ikke tro at nogen bryder sig om dig. (You shall not think that anyone cares about you.)

10. Du skal ikke tro at du kan lære os noget. (You shall not think that you can teach us anything.)