Robert Burns

The best laid plans take 40 years to complete.

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

Oatcakes are a delicate relish when eaten warm with ale.

Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die.

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

A man's a man for a' that. . . . . A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might, Guid faith he mauna fa' that! . . . Then let us pray that come it may, As come it will for a' that, That sense and worth, o'er a' the earth, May bear the gree and a' that. For a' that, and a' that, It's comin' yet, for a' that, When man to man, the world o'er, Shall brithers be for a' that.

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.\'

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!\'

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.

Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit.

If there's another world, he lives in bliss; if there is none, he made the best of this.

Painters and poets have liberty to lie.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

I love drinking now and then. It defecates the standing pool of thought. A man perpetually in the paroxysm and fears of inebriety is like a half-drowned stupid wretch condemned to labor unceasingly in water; but a now-and-then tribute to Bacchus is like the cold bath, bracing and invigorating.

Learn taciturnity and let that be your motto!

Suspense is worst than disappointment.

Love's first snow-drop, virgin kiss.

My Son, these maxims make a rule An lump them ay thegither: The Rigid Righteous is a fool, The Rigid Wise anither.

At length his lonely cot appears in view,<br />Beneath the shelter of an aged tree;<br />Th' expectant wee-things, toddling, stacher thro'<br />To meet their Dad, wi' flichterin noise an' glee.

To make a happy fireside clime<br />To weans and wife,<br />That's the true pathos and sublime<br />Of human life.

Now Nature hangs her mantle green<br />On every blooming tree,<br />And spreads her sheets o'daisies white<br />Out o'er the grassy lea.

Again rejoicing Nature sees<br />Her robe assume its vernal hues<br />Her leafy locks wave in the breeze,<br />All freshly steep'd in the morning dews.

All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn.

Gie me ae spark o' Nature's fire,<br />That's a' the learning I desire.

Some rhyme a neebor's name to lash;<br />Some rhyme (vain thought!) for needfu' cash;<br />Some rhyme to court the countra clash,<br />An' raise a din;<br />For me, an aim I never fash;<br />I rhyme for fun.

As Tammie glow'red, amazed and curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious.

Be Briton still to Britain true,<br />Among oursel's united;<br />For never but by British hands<br />Maun British wrangs be righted.

What is life, when wanting love?<br />Night without a morning;<br />Love's the cloudless summer sun,<br />Nature gay adorning.

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

The golden hours on angel wings<br />Flew o'er me and my dearie,<br />For dear to me as light and life<br />Was my sweet Highland Mary.