Robert Burns Quotes

Scottish poet and lyricist (1759–1796)

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Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) was a poet and pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death became an important source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Also Known As: Bard of Ayrshire

Alternative Names: Robbie Burns • Rabbie Burns • Scotland's favorite son • Ploughman Poet • The Bard • National poet of Scotland • Robden of Solway Firth

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O were my love yon Lilac fair,
Wi' purple blossoms to the Spring,
And I, a bird to shelter there,
When wearied on my little wing!
How I wad mourn when it was torn
By Autumn wild, and Winter rude!
But I wad sing on wanton wing,
When youthfu' May its bloom renew'd.

O gin my love were yon red rose,
That grows upon the castle wa';
And I myself a drap o' dew,
Into her bonie breast to fa'!
O there, beyond expression blest,
I'd feast on beauty a' the night;
Seal'd on her silk-saft faulds to rest,
Till fley'd awa by Phoebus' light!

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed Or to Victorie! Now's the day, and now's the hour; See the front o' battle lour! See approach proud Edward's power— Chains and slaverie!

Some books are lies frae end to end.

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

Green grow the rashes, O; Green grow the rashes, O; The sweetest hours that e'er I spend Are spent among the lasses, O.

Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that; Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that: For a' that, an' a' that, His ribband, star, an' a' that: The man o' independent mind He looks an' laughs at a' that. A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's abon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities an' a' that; The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth, Are higher rank than a' 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, Shall bear the gree, an' a' that. 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.

Then gently scan your brother
man,
still gentler sister woman, though they may gang
a kennin wrang, to step aside is human

Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn. Man was made to Mourn.

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.

Wi' lightsome heart I pu'd a rose
Frae aff its thorny tree;
And my false luver straw my rose
But left the thorn wi' me.

Ye're aiblins nae temptation.

But pleasures are like poppies spread— You seize the flow'r, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river— A moment white—then melts forever.

A gaudy dress and gentle air May slightly touch the heart; But it’s innocence and modesty That polishes the dart.

Now a' is done that men can do, And a' is done in vain.

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