Top 100 Robert Burns Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

— Robert Burns

Featured in: Failure Quotes

2. “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

3. “Now’s the day and now’s the hour.”

— Robert Burns

4. “Here’s to us, who’s like us Damn few, and they’re all dead.”

— Robert Burns

5. “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

6. “Life is but a day at most.”

— Robert Burns

7. “My heart ’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart ’s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer.”

— Robert Burns

8. “But little Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew, And leave us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy! Still you are blest, compared with me!”

— Robert Burns

9. “A women can make an average man great, and a great man average.”

— Robert Burns

10. “Look abroad through Nature’s range, Nature’s mighty law is change.”

— Robert Burns

11. “Dare to be honest and fear no labor.”

— Robert Burns

12. “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

13. “The heart that is generous and kind most resembles God.”

— Robert Burns

14. “God knows, I’m no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be.”

— Robert Burns

15. “Auld Nature swears the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O; Her ‘prentice han’ she tried on man, And then she made the lasses, O!”

— Robert Burns

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

— Robert Burns

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

— Robert Burns

18. “I’m truly sorry man’s dominion has broken Nature’s social union.”

— Robert Burns

19. “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

20. “Beauty’s of a fading nature. Has a season and is gone!”

— Robert Burns

21. “The best laid plans take 40 years to complete.”

— Robert Burns

22. “Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to min?”

— Robert Burns

23. “Even every ray of hope destroyed and not a wish to gild the gloom.”

— Robert Burns

24. “But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever. Had we never lou’d sae kindly, Had we never lou’d sae blindly, Never met – or never parted – We had ne’er been broken hearted.”

— Robert Burns

25. “Nae man can tether time or tide.”

— Robert Burns

26. “Wee, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!”

— Robert Burns

27. “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

28. “Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed, Or to victory! Now ‘s the day and now ‘s the hour; See the front o’ battle lour.”

— Robert Burns

29. “Nature’s law, That man was made to mourn. Man’s inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn! O Death, the poor man’s dearest friend, The kindest and the best!”

— Robert Burns

30. “Suspense is worst than disappointment.”

— Robert Burns

31. “Farewell, my friends! farewell, my foes! My peace with these, my love with those. The bursting tears my heart declare; Farewell, the bonnie banks of Ayr.”

— Robert Burns

32. “My dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heav’n is sent, Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!”

— Robert Burns

33. “Prudent, cautious self-control is wisdom’s root.”

— Robert Burns

34. “Love’s first snow-drop, virgin kiss.”

— Robert Burns

35. “Liberty’s in every blow! Let us do or die.”

— Robert Burns

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

— Robert Burns

37. “O, my luve is like a red, red rose.”

— Robert Burns

38. “I have a hundred times wished that one could resign life as an officer resigns a commission.”

— Robert Burns

39. “Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.”

— Robert Burns

40. “Ye Hypocrites, are these your pranks To murder men and gie God thanks Desist for shame, proceed no further God won’t accept your thanks for murder.”

— Robert Burns

41. “God knows, I’m not the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be, But twenty times I rather would be An atheist clean, Than under gospel colours hid be Just for a screen.”

— Robert Burns

42. “Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new.”

— Robert Burns

43. “Nursing her wrath to keep it warm. – Robert Burns.”

— Robert Burns

44. “To step aside is human.”

— Robert Burns

45. “A eunuch is a man who has had his work cut out for him.”

— Robert Burns

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

— Robert Burns

47. “The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know And keenly felt the friendly glow And softer flame; But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain’d his name!”

— Robert Burns

48. “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?”

— Robert Burns

49. “As Tammie glow’red, amazed and curious, The mirth and fun grew fast and furious.”

— Robert Burns

Featured in: Fun Quotes

50. “By Oppression’s woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free! Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty’s in every blow! Let us do or die!”

— Robert Burns