After almost a month in Copenhagen, the Jante Law explains many aspects of life you can experience in Copenhagen.

It was also funny that before knowing this, I was somehow explaining it with my own words, but after some research, everything made sense when this concept was put on paper.

Not every Dane knows about this rule, but it is implicit in the culture. They may not know that it exists, but they still somehow use it.

The Law of Jante (or Janteloven) is a cultural code of conduct in Nordic societies that discourages individuality and emphasizes collective uniformity. It is often summarized by the core principle: “You are not to think you’re anyone special.”

Origin and Context

The concept originated in the 1933 satirical novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks (En flygtning krydser sit spor) by Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose. In the book, “Jante” is a fictional Danish working-class town modeled after the author’s hometown of Nykøbing Mors. While originally written as a critique of small-town suffocation and social control, the term has evolved to describe a broader cultural mentality across Scandinavia, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

The Ten Rules

Sandemose defined the law through ten specific rules that enforce humility and social conformity. These rules are variations of the same theme: prioritizing the collective over the individual.

• You’re not to think you are anything special.
• You’re not to think you are as good as we are.
• You’re not to think you are smarter than we are.
• You’re not to imagine yourself better than we are.
• You’re not to think you know more than we do.
• You’re not to think you are more important than we are.
• You’re not to think you are good at anything.
• You’re not to laugh at us.
• You’re not to think anyone cares about you.
• You’re not to think you can teach us anything.

There is also a lesser-known “eleventh rule” in the novel, often called the “penal code of Jante”: Perhaps you don’t think we know a few things about you? This implies a threat of social surveillance and judgment.

Modern Interpretation

Today, Janteloven is not an actual legal code but a social norm that influences behavior in both positive and negative ways.

• Equality and Harmony: Proponents view it as a foundation for egalitarianism, ensuring that no one places themselves above the community, which fosters social stability and modesty.
• Suppression of Success: Critics argue it can suppress individual ambition, innovation, and self-expression by shaming those who stand out or achieve exceptional success.
• Workplace Culture: In professional settings, it often translates to flat hierarchies where bragging is taboo and consensus is valued over individual star power.