Robert Burns, also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, the National Bard, Bard of Ayrshire and the Ploughman Poet and various other names and epithets, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. Profoundly inspirational Robert Burns quotes will challenge the way you think, change the way you live and transform your whole life.
If you’re searching for meaningful quotes by greatest poets that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of best Sappho quotes, amazing Virgil quotes and powerful William Morris quotes.
Famous Robert Burns Quotes
A woman can make an average man great, and a great man average. Robert Burns
We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared since days of long ago. Robert Burns
Now’s the day and now’s the hour. Robert Burns
But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever. Robert Burns
Oh would some power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us! Robert Burns
The best laid schemes o mice an men gang aft agley. Robert Burns
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 some attention. Robert Burns
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. Robert Burns
There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing. Robert Burns
But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, it’s bloom is shed; Or, like the snow fall in the river, A moment white, then melts forever. Robert Burns
Gie me ae spark o Nature’s fire, That’s a’ the learning I desire. Robert Burns
Had we never lov’d sae kindly, Had we never lov’d sae blindly, Never met or never parted we had ne’er been broken hearted. Robert Burns
How wretched is the person who hangs on by the favors of the powerful. Robert Burns
My heart is sair I dare na tell, My heart is sair for Somebody. Robert Burns
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. Robert Burns
Some books are lies frae end to end, And some great lies were never penn’d. Robert Burns
But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, it’s bloom is shed; Or, like the snow fall in the river, A moment white, then melts forever. Robert Burns
Oh would some power the giftie gie us, To see ourselves as others see us. Robert Burns
The best laid schemes o mice an men, Gang aft a gley, And leave us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy. Robert Burns
Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Robert Burns
Life is but a day at most. Robert Burns
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. 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
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm. Robert Burns
An honest man here lies at rest, the friend of man the friend of truth the friend of age and guide of youth. Few hearts like his with virtue warmed, few heads with knowledge so informed. If there’s another world, he lives in bliss. If there is none, he made the best of this. Robert Burns
Oh the gift that God could give us, to see ourselves as others see us. Robert Burn
Nae man can tether time or tide. Robert Burns
Hope Springs Exulting on Triumphant Wing. Robert Burns
Here’s to us, who’s like us Damn few, and they’re all dead. Robert Burns
I am little acquainted with politeness, but I know a good deal of benevolence of temper and goodness of heart. Robert Burns
Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing. Robert Burns
Let them cant about decorum, who have characters to lose! Robert Burns
The heart that is generous and kind most resembles God. Robert Burns
Critics! Appalled I ventured on the name. Those cutthroat bandits in the paths of fame. Robert Burns
Learn taciturnity and let that be your motto! Robert Burns
The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o’ the morn. Robert Burn
My love is like a red, red rose That’s newly sprung in June My love is like the melody That’s sweetly played in tune. How fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in love am I; And I will love thee still, my dear, Till all the seas gang dry. Till all the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt with the sun; I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands of life shall run. And fare thee weel, my only love. And fare thee weel awhile! And I will come again, my love, Though it were ten thousand mile. Robert Burns
The fear o hell’s a hangman’s whip to haud the wretch in order; But where ye feel your honor grip, let that aye be your border. Robert Burns
She is a winsome wee thing, She is a handsome wee thing, She is a bonny wee thing, This sweet wee wife o mine. Robert Burns
Till crash! the cruel coulter past Out thro’ thy cell. Robert Burns
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. Robert Burns
The best laid schemes o mice an men Gang aft agle. Robert Burns
The best laid plans take 40 years to complete. Robert Burns
Even thou who mournst the daisies fate, that fate is thine. Robert Burns
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. Robert Burns
I found that old Solomon proved it fair, That a big belly’d bottle’s a cure for all care. Robert Burns
God knows, I’m no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be. Robert Burns
A gaudy dress and gentle air May slightly touch the heart; But it’s innocence and modesty That polishes the dart. Robert Burns
The voice of Nature loudly cries,And many a message from the skies,That something in us never dies. Robert Burns
Even tho who mournst the daisies fate, that fate is thine. Robert Burns
Prudent, cautious self control is wisdom’s root. 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. Robert Burns
O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An foolish notion. Robert Burns
We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free. Robert Burns
When matters are desperate we must put on a desperate face. Robert Burns
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. Robert Burns
I look on the opposite sex with something like the admiration with which I regard the starry sky on a frosty December night. I admire the beauty of the Creator’s workmanship, I am charmed with the wild but graceful eccentricity of the motions, and then I wish both of them goodnight. Robert Burns
The best laid schemes of mice and men often go astray. Robert Burns
Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn! Robert Burns
Even thou who mournst the daisy’s fate, that fate is thine. Robert Burns
If there’s another world, he lives in bliss; if there is none, he made the best of this. Robert Burns
Thou Power Supreme, whose mighty scheme These woes of mine fulfil, Here firm I rest; they must be best, Because they are Thy will! Then all I want O do Thou grant This one request of mine! Since to enjoy Thou dost deny, Assist me to resign. Robert Burns
I pick my favorite quotations and store them in my mind as ready armor, offensive or defensive, amid the struggle of this turbulent existence. Robert Burns
A gaudy dress and gentle air May slightly touch the heart; But it’s innocence and modesty That polishes the dart. Robert Burns
Look abroad through Nature’s range, Nature’s mighty law is change. Robert Burns
Gathering her brows like gathering storm, Nursing her wrath to keep it warm. Robert Burns
Mankind is a science that defies definitions. Robert Burns
Should the poor be flattered? Shakespeare. Robert Burns
Suspicion is a heavy armor and with its weight it impedes more than it protects. Robert Burns