65 Great Scots Quotes, Sayings And Proverbs That Kids Will Love
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Scotland is a beautiful and quaint country that falls within the United Kingdom.
On thinking about Scotland, the first thing that comes to our minds is the Scottish highlands. The picturesque landscapes grace the country with the vigor of life.
Scotland has been the highlight of the greatest literature, including Shakespeare’s 'Macbeth' to Diana Gabaldon’s 'Outlander' series. The unique accent of Scottish people has made the rest of the world swoon over them.
It is always fun to learn some Scottish quotes and sayings to impress people with your knowledge. The Scots language is the Scottish Gaelic. So read on for Scots quotes.
If you find the Scots quotes entertaining, do not forget to check out the [Native American quotes] and Greek quotes for knowing more about different countries.
Best Scottish Quotes From Renowned Scots
'Scots' is a loving way of calling the Scottish people. Here are some famous Scottish quotes to get you started on Gaelic life along with Mary Queen of Scots quotes.
1. “Look to your consciences and remember that the theatre of the world is wider than the realm of England.”
‒ Mary Queen of Scots.
2. “Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”
‒ William Wallace.
3. “An old liar told me here
To think ahead and save my money.
I should have spent it on ribbons.
I should have learned the tune my dead grandfather played
When the daft wife heard him resounding
In the deep pine woods in early November.”
‒ Menzies McKillop.
4. “We fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honour but only and alone for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life.”
‒ Robert the Bruce.
5. “Penicillin cures, but wine makes people happy.”
‒ Alexander Fleming, on his first telephone call.
6. “The real tragedy of the poor is the poverty of their aspirations.”
‒ Adam Smith.
7. “Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.”
‒ David Hume.
8. “Mr. Watson — Come here — I want to see you.”
‒ Alexander Graham Bell.
9. “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”
‒ Sir Walter Scott, ‘The Talisman’.
10. “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
‒ Robert Louis Stevenson.
11. “Thoroughly conscious ignorance is the prelude to every real advance in science.”
‒ James Clerk Maxwell.
12. “I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit.”
‒ John Knox.
13. “No great man lives in vain. The history of the world is but the biography of great men.”
‒ Thomas Carlyle.
14. “I am not an Englishman, I was never an Englishman, and I don't ever want to be one. I am a Scotsman! I was a Scotsman and I will always be one.”
‒ Sean Connery.
15. “I believe that all great art holds the power to dissolve things: time, distance, difference, injustice, alienation, despair. I believe that all great art holds the power to mend things: join, comfort, inspire hope in fellowship, reconcile us to our selves.”
‒ Tilda Swinton.
16. “The three most effective incentives to human action may be … classified as creed, greed and dread.”
‒ Sir Robert Alexander Watson-Watt, ‘Scientist And Citizen’.
17. “In tennis, it is not the opponent you fear, it is the failure itself, knowing how near you were but just out of reach.”
‒ Andy Murray.
18. “The importance of education is ingrained in Scottish history.”
‒ Nicola Sturgeon.
19. “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
‒ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, ‘The Sign Of Four’.
20. “A fool tries to look different: a clever man looks the same and is different.”
‒ John Buchan, ‘The 39 Steps’.
Scottish Quotes From Robert Burns
In this section find some spectacular quotes left behind by Robert Burns, the renowned Scottish poet and lyricist.
21. “But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever.”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’.
22. “Not the bee upon the blossom, In the pride o' sunny noon; Not the little sporting fairy, All beneath the simmer moon.”
‒ Robert Burns.
23. “My heart is sair-I dare na tell, My heart is sair for Somebody.”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘For The Sake O’ Somebody’.
24. “My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer; A-chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands wherever I go.”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘My Heart's In The Highlands’.
25. “Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.”
‒ Robert Burns.
26. “My love is like the red red rose that's newly sprung in June O my love's like the melody that's newly played in tune.”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘A Red, Red Rose’.
27. “Unmatch'd at the bottle, unconquer'd in war,
He drank his poor god-ship as deep as the sea;
No tide of the Baltic e'er drunker than he.”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘The Whistle: A Ballad’.
28. “Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly;”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘To A Louse’.
29. “And surely ye’ll be your pint stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’kindness yet,
For auld lang syne…”
‒ Robert Burns, ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
30. “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.”
‒ Robert Burns.
Common Scottish Sayings And Proverbs
Scots Gaelic quotes are all about the common sayings and words in their native Scottish English or Gaelic. Here are some Scots sayings.
31. “The Devil’s a busy bishop in his own diocese.”
‒ Old Scottish Saying.
32. “Be happy while you’re living, for you’re a long time dead.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
33. “Haud yer wheesht!" (Be quiet, shut up, and stop talking.)
‒ Old Scottish Saying.
34. “I’ll gie ye a skelpit lug!" (I’ll give you a slap on the ear.)
‒ Old Scottish Saying.
35. “Wink at small faults, for you have great ones yourself.”
‒ Funny Scottish Saying.
36. “If you don’t see the bottom, don’t wade.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
37. “Dinnae teach yer Granny tae suck eggs!”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
38. “A nod’s as guid as a wink tae a blind horse.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
39. “Common sense hides shame.”
‒ Gaelic Proverb.
40. “Haste Ye Back!" (Return soon.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
41. “Awa’ an bile yer heid." (Away and boil your head.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
42. “Ma heid’s mince." (My head’s a bit mixed up.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
43. “A rich man’s wooing need seldom be a long one.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
44. “Don't be a wee clipe." (Don't be a little tell-tale.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
45. “Better be the lucky man than the lucky man’s son.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
46. "Ah dinnae ken." (I don’t know.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
47. “Gie it laldy." (Doing something with energy.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
48. “We’ll never know the worth of water till the well go dry.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
49. “Whit’s fur yi will no go by yi." (What will be will be.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
50. “That’s gee-in me the boak." (That makes me feel sick.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
51. “Pure dead brilliant.”
‒ Scottish Saying.
52. “The baw is up on the slates." (Game over.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
53. “Nobody can serve two masters.”
‒ Gaelic Proverb.
54. “Glasses and lasses are fragile ware!”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
55. “A cock is valiant on his own dunghill.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
56. “Lang may yer lum reek." (Long may your chimney smoke.)
‒ Scottish Saying.
57. “Penny wise and pound foolish.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
58. “Danger and delight grow on one stalk.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
59. “Good company on a journey is worth a coach.”
‒ Scottish Saying.
60. “When wine sinks words swim.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
61. “Better wear out shoes than sheets.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
62. “Praise the fine day in the evening.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
63. “A gloved cat was never a good hunter.”
‒ Scottish Proverb.
64. “The day has eyes, the night has ears.”
‒ Gaelic Proverb.
65. “Fools look to tomorrow; wise men use tonight.”
‒ Gaelic Proverb.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Scots quotes then why not take a look at African quotes and [America quotes].
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Bachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics
Martha MartinsBachelor of Arts specializing in Linguistics
Martha is a full-time creative writer, content strategist, and aspiring screenwriter who communicates complex thoughts and ideas effectively. She has completed her Bachelor's in Linguistics from Nasarawa State University. As an enthusiast of public relations and communication, Martha is well-prepared to substantially impact your organization as your next content writer and strategist. Her dedication to her craft and commitment to delivering high-quality work enables her to create compelling content that resonates with audiences.
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