'The
Jante Law', considered by the
Swedes themselves to be
Sweden's true albeit unofficial
constitution.
Jante is a
village described in
Aksel Sandemose's book
En flykting korsar sitt spår (A Refugee Crosses his Footsteps).
It is the unforgiving, 'cramped' symbolic hometown in which none can be seen as an individual.
This is the Jante Law:
1. Du skal ikke tro at du *er* noe.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art anyone special.
2. Du skal ikke tro at du er like saa meget som *oss*.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art as good as us.
3. Du skal ikke tro at du er klokere en *oss*.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art any wiser than us.
4. Du skal ikke innbille deg du er bedre enn *oss*.
Thou shalt never indulge in the conceit of imagining that thou art better than us.
5. Du skal ikke tro du vet mere enn *oss*.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art more knowledgeable than us.
6. Du skal ikke tro du er mere enn *oss*.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art more than us.
7. Du skal ikke tro at *du* duger til noe.
Thou shalt not presume that thou art going to amount to anything.
8. Du skal ikke le av *oss*.
Thou shalt not presume that thou canst laugh at us.
9. Du skal ikke tro at noen bryr seg om *deg*.
Thou shalt never imagine that anyone cares about thee.
10. Du skal ikke tro at du kan lære *oss* noe.
Thou shalt not suppose that thou canst teach
us anything.