The Best Robert Burns quotes

For a’ that, an’ a’ that, It’s coming yet for a’ that, That Man to Man, the world o’er, Shall brothers be for a’ that. — Robert Burns

T is sweeter for thee despairing Than aught in the world beside,–Jessy! — Robert Burns

The wide world is all before us–but a world without a friend. — Robert Burns

All my fears and cares are of this world; if there is another, an honest man has nothing to fear from it. — Robert Burns

Both of them?’ Mat spluttered. ‘Light! Two! Oh, burn me! He’s the luckiest man in the world or the biggest fool since creation! — Robert Jordan

To step aside is human. — Robert Burns

It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty. — Robert Burns

Mankind is a science that defies definitions. — Robert Burns

Mankind is an unco squad And muckle he may grieve thee. — Robert Burns

The upright, honest–hearted man Who strives to do the best he can, Need never fear the church’s ban Or hell’s damnation. — Robert Burns

Dare to be honest and fear no labor. — Robert Burns

A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a’ that; But an honest man’s aboon his might: Guid faith, he maunna fa’ that. — Robert Burns

It ‘s guid to be merry and wise, It ‘s guid to be honest and true, It ‘s guid to support Caledonia’s cause, And bide by the buff and the blue. — Robert Burns

The honest man, though e’er sae poor, Is king o’ men, for a’ that! — Robert Burns

Dare to be honest and fear no labor. … Opera is where a man gets stabbed in the back, and instead of dying, he sings. — Robert Burns

For thus the royal mandate ran, When first the human race began, ‘The social, friendly honest man, Whate’er he be, Tis he fulfils great Nature’s plan, And none but he! — Robert Burns

From scenes like these old Scotia’s grandeur springs, That makes her loved at home, revered abroad: Princes and lords are but the breath of kings, ‘An honest man ‘s the noblest work of God. — Robert Burns

The best–laid schemes o’ mice an ‘mengang aft agley. — Robert Burns

The best laid plans take 40 years to complete. — Robert Burns

The best–laid plans of mice and men often go awry. — Robert Burns

The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know And keenly felt the friendly glow And softer flame; But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain’d his name! — Robert Burns

The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men, Gang aft agley. An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! (To A Mouse) — Robert Burns

In proving foresight may be vain: The best–laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain, For promis’d joy! — Robert Burns

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane In proving foresight may be vain The best–laid schemes o’ mice an’ men Gang aft agley An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain For promis’d joy! — Robert Burns

Beauty’s of a fading nature. Has a season and is gone! — Robert Burns

The voice of Nature loudly cries,And many a message from the skies,That something in us never dies. — Robert Burns

What’s a’ your jargon o’ your schools, Your Latin names for horns and stools; If honest nature made you fools. — Robert Burns

Again rejoicing Nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues Her leafy locks wave in the breeze, All freshly steep’d in the morning dews. — Robert Burns

When Nature her great masterpiece designed,And framed her last, best work, the human mind,Her eye intent on all the wondrous plan,She formed of various stuff the various Man. — Robert Burns

Now Nature hangs her mantle green On every blooming tree, And spreads her sheets o’daisies white Out o’er the grassy lea. — Robert Burns

Auld Nature swears the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O; Her ‘prentice han’ she tried on man, And then she made the lasses, O! — Robert Burns

My heart is sair–I dare na tell, My heart is sair for Somebody. — Robert Burns

The heart that is generous and kind most resembles God. — Robert Burns

My heart ‘s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart ‘s in the Highlands a–chasing the deer. — Robert Burns

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart’s in the Highlands a–chasing the deer; A–chasing the wild–deer, and following the roe, My heart’s in the Highlands wherever I go. — Robert Burns

And let us mind, faint heart ne’er wan A lady fair. Wha does the utmost that he can Will whyles do mair. — Robert Burns

Why has a religious turn of mind always a tendency to narrow and harden the heart? — Robert Burns

In my conscience, I believe that my heart has been so oft on fire that it is absolutely vitrified. — Robert Burns

I am little acquainted with politeness, but I know a good deal of benevolence of temper and goodness of heart. — Robert Burns

But deep this truth impress’d my mind: Thro’ all His works abroad, The heart benevolent and kind The most resembles God. — Robert Burns

The joy of my heart is to ‘study men, their manners, and their ways,’ and for this darling object I cheerfully sacrifice every other consideration. — Robert Burns

She wildly burned for the one she loved and he stood there watching, hoping he too would catch a blaze from the violence stirring in her heart. — Robert M. Drake

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

To see her is to love her, And love but her forever; For nature made her what she is, And never made anither! — Robert Burns

There’s some are fou o’ love divine; There’s some are fou o’ brandy. — Robert Burns

There is something so mean and unmanly in the arts of dissimulation and falsehood that I am surprised they can be used by anyone in so noble, so generous a passion as virtuous love. — Robert Burns

But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever. Had we never lou’d sae kindly, Had we never lou’d sae blindly, Never met–or never parted–We had ne’er been broken hearted — Robert Burns

Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those. The bursting tears my heart declare; Farewell, the bonnie banks of Ayr. — Robert Burns

And man, whose heav’n–erected face The smiles of love adorn Man’s inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn! — Robert Burns

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. — Robert Burns