Robert Burns Quotes

The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley; And leave us naught but grief and pain For promised joy.

The best plans of men and mice often go awry.

Oh wad some power the giftie gie us To see oursel's as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, And foolish notion.

What signifies the life o' man, An' 'twere na for the lasses O.

But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever.

Oh, my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh, my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune.

Some have meat, and cannot eat, And some cannot eat that want it; But we have meat, and we can eat - And let the Lord be thanked.

I want someone to laugh with me, someone to be grave with me, someone to please me and help my discrimination with his or her own remark, and at times, no doubt, to admire my acuteness and penetration.

When chill November's surly blast make fields and forest bare.

Ye hypocrites! are these your pranks? To Murder men, and give God thanks? Desist for same! proceed no further: God won't accept your thanks for Murther!

How wretched is the person who hangs on by the favors of the powerful.

Gi'e me a spark o' Nature's fire that's a' the learning I desire.

Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes; Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise.

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things, The fate of empires and the fall of kings; While quacks of State must each produce his plan, And even children lisp the Rights of Man; Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention, The Rights of Woman merit.

Prudent, cautious self-control Is wisdom's root.

But human bodies are sic fools, For a' their colleges and schools, That when nae real ills perplex them, They make enow themsel's to vex them.

The golden hours on angel wings Flew o'er me and my Dearie; For dear to me as light and life Was my sweet Highland Mary.

Learn taciturnity and let that be your motto!

The heart and benevolent and kind the most resembles God.

Your lines, I maintain it, are poetry, and good poetry.... Friendship... had I been so blest as to have met with you in time, might have led me — God of love only knows where.

Suspense is worst than disappointment.

Their sighing , canting , grace-proud faces, their three-mile prayers, and half-mile graces.

There was three Kings into the east, / Three kings both great and high, / And they hae sworn a solemn oath / John Barleycorn should die.

We labour soon, we labour late, / To feed the titled knave, man; / And a' the comfort we're to get / Is that ayont the grave, man.