Robert Burns Quotes

The best laid schemes o'mice an' men
gang aft agley, An'lea'e us nought but grief an'pain, For promis'd joy...

Some books are lies frae end to end,
And some great lies were never penn'd...

Her cutty sark, o' Paisley harn, That while a lassie she had worn, In longitude tho' sorely scanty, It was her best, and she was vauntie.

His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony: Tam lo'ed him like a vera brither— They had been fou for weeks thegither.

Gin a body meet a body
Coming thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body — Need a body cry?

Nature's law, That man was made to mourn.

Stern Ruin's plowshare drives elate, Full on thy bloom.

John Anderson, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonie brow was brent; But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snaw, But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson, my jo!

But yet, O Lord! confess I must,
At times I'm fash'd wi' fleshly lust:
An' sometimes too in warldly trust,
Vile self gets in;
But Thou remembers we are dust,
Defil'd wi' sin.

Ye'll try the world soon, my lad;
And, Andrew dear, believe me,
Ye'll find mankind an unco squad,

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.

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

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.

"Comin thro' the Rye"

[First Setting]
Comin thro' the rye, poor body,
Comin thro' the rye,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie
Comin thro' the rye.

[CHORUS.]
Oh Jenny 's a' weet poor body
Jenny 's seldom dry,
She draigl't a' her petticoatie
Comin thro' the rye.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body — Need a body cry.
Oh Jenny 's a' weet, &c.

Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro' the glen;
Gin a body kiss a body — Need the warld ken!
Oh Jenny 's a' weet, &c.

[Second Setting]
Gin a body meet a body, comin thro' the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body, need a body cry;
Ilka body has a body, ne'er a ane hae I;
But a' the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.

Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the well,
Gin a body kiss a body, need a body tell;
Ilka body has a body, ne'er a ane hae I,
But a the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.

Gin a body meet a body, comin frae the town,
Gin a body kiss a body, need a body gloom;
Ilka Jenny has her Jockey, ne'er a ane hae I,
But a' the lads they loe me, and what the waur am I.

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