Robert Burns Quotes

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“To make a happy fireside clime
To weans and wife,—
That is the true pathos and sublime
Of human life.”

“The landlady and Tam grew gracious
Wi' favours secret, sweet, and precious.”

“Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae farewell, alas, forever!”

“Oh, my Luve is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my Luve is like the melodie,
That's sweetly played in tune.”

“That hour, o' night's black arch the keystane.”

“On ev'ry hand it will allowed be,
He's just—nae better than he should be.”

“I waive the quantum o' the sin,
The hazard of concealing:
But, och! it hardens a' within,
And petrifies the feeling!”

“And like a passing thought, she fled
In light away.”

“O life! thou art a galling load,
Along a rough, a weary road,
To wretches such as I!”

“Dweller in yon dungeon dark,
Hangman of creation, mark!
Who in widow weeds appears,
Laden with unhonoured years,
Noosing with care a bursting purse,
Baited with many a deadly curse?”

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

“There's nought but care on ev'ry han',
In every hour that passes, O:
What signifies the life o' man,
An' then she made the lasses, O.”

“John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.”

“If naebody care for me,
I'll care for naebody.”

“The golden Hours on angel wings
Flew o'er me and my Dearie;
For dear to me as light and life
Was my sweet Highland Mary.”

“But, oh! fell death's untimely frost,
That nipt my flower sae early.”

“Gie me ae spark o' Nature's fire,
That's a' the learning I desire.”

“The landlord's laugh was ready chorus.”

“We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine.”

“He turn'd him right and round about
Upon the Irish shore;
And gae his bridle reins a shake,
With adieu forevermore,
My dear—
And adieu forevermore!”

“For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!”

“The social, friendly, honest man,
Whate'er he be,
'Tis he fulfills great Nature's plan,
And none but he!”

“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."”

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

“Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious,
O'er a' the ills o' life victorious.”

“The heart benevolent and kind
The most resembles God.”

“Misled by fancy's meteor ray,
By passion driven;
But yet the light that led astray
Was light from heaven.”

“Inspiring bold John Barleycorn!
What dangers thou canst make us scorn!
Wi' tippenny, we fear nae evil;
Wi' usquabae, we'll face the devil!”

“Ah, gentle dames! it gars me greet
To think how monie counsels sweet,
How monie lengthened, sage advices,
The husband frae the wife despises!”

“Nae man can tether time or tide.”

“His lockèd, lettered, braw brass collar
Showed him the gentleman an' scholar.”

“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!”

“An' there began a lang digression
About the lords o' the creation.”

“The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
For a' that an a' that.”

“The fear o' hell 's a hangman's whip
To haud the wretch in order;
But where ye feel your honour grip,
Let that aye be your border.”

“T is sweeter for thee despairing
Than aught in the world beside,—Jessy!”

“It was a' for our rightfu' King
We left fair Scotland's strand.”

“Chords that vibrate sweetest pleasure
Thrill the deepest notes of woe.”

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

“Here lies Boghead amang the dead
In hopes to get salvation;
But if such as he in Heav'n may be,
Then welcome, hail! damnation. ”

“Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie,
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!”

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to min?'
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' auld lang syne?”

“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.
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us
An' ev'n Devotion”

“To see her is to love her,
And love but her forever;
For Nature made her what she is,
And never made anither!”

“Ah, Tam! Ah! Tam! Thou'll get thy fairin!
In hell they'll roast you like a herrin!”

“Some books are lies frae end to end.”

“Ye're aiblins nae temptation.”

“O, my luve’s like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June.”