Stanza 55

Original Old Norse:

Meðalsnotr

skyli manna hverr

æva til snotr sé

því at snotrs manns hjarta

verðr sjaldan glatt,

ef sá er alsnotr er á

Auden & Taylor:

It is best for man to be middle-wise,

Not over cunning and clever:

The fairest life is led by those 

Who are deft at all they do.

Bellows:

A measure of wisdom | each man shall have,

But never too much let him know;

For the wise man's heart | is seldom happy,

If wisdom too great he has won.

Bray:

Wise in measure should each man be; 

but let him not wax too wise;

seldom a heart will sing with joy 

if the owner be all too wise.

Chisholm:

Middle wise should each man be

and not over-wise.

A wise man’s heart is seldom glad

when he has got himself great wisdom.

Hollander:

Middling wise every man should be:

beware of being too wise;

for wise man's heart is happy seldom,

if too great the wisdom he won.

Terry:

Moderately wise a man should be --

don't wish for too much wisdom;

a man's heart is seldom happy

if he is truly wise.

Thorpe:

Moderately wise

should each one be,

but never over-wise;

for a wise man’s heart

is seldom glad,

if he is all-wise who owns it.

If we know everything there is to know, what wonders are left in this world?
We all know "that guy" who knows EVERYTHING on EVERYTHING, and has no issue telling you that you are wrong, or over-explaining things. The ones who love to flaunt their knowledge of all things. How happy are those people? I immediately think of the stage illusionists. David Copperfield (is he even still a thing?), Sigfried and Roy, Chris Angel, David Blaine, Penn & Teller.. the greats who mystify and entertain people all across the globe. How cool are their tricks once you see behind the curtain, and figure out the strings, pulleys, mirrors?