Regarded as the national poet of Scotland, he was given the title of 'Bard of Ayrshire'. The majority of his writing was based on Romanticism.
Burns was famous as he led a fight against the old school and orthodox beliefs of the church. People often consider 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'To A Mouse' as his most famous work.
After his health started failing, Burns passes away at the age of 37 from rheumatic heart disease and was buried at St. Michael's Churchyard in Dumfries, in 1817.
If you like this, check out [T.S. Eliot quotes] and Keats quotes
Best Quotes Of Robert Burns
Enlisted below are the best quotes of Robert Burns along with Robert Burns poetry quotes and Scotland quotes.
1."We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine,
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne."
- Robert Burns, 'Auld Lang Syne'.
2. "Now's the day and now's the hour."
- Robert Burns, 'Robert Bruce's March To Bannockburn'.
3. "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."
- Robert Burns, 'The Complete Poetical Works Of Robert Burns'.
4. "Dare to be honest and fear no labor."
- Robert Burns, 'The Prose Works Of Robert Burns'.
5. "If there's another world, he lives in bliss; if there is none, he made the best of this."
- Robert Burns, 'The Poems Of Robert Burns'.
6. "Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;"
- Robert Burns, 'A Red, Red Rose'.
7. "Painters and poets have liberty to lie."
- Robert Burns.
8. "I will love thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run."
- Robert Burns, 'A Red, Red Rose'.
9. "Life is but a day at most."
- Robert Burns, 'Written In Friars' Carse Hermitage'.
10. "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.
11. "The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men
Gang aft agley,
An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,
For promis’d joy!"
- Robert Burns.
12. "And man, whose heav'n-erected face
The smiles of love adorn
Man's inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn!"
- Robert Burns, 'Man Was Made To Mourn'.
13. "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.
14. "My love is like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June:
My love is like the melody
That's sweetly played in tune."
- Robert Burns, 'A Red, Red Rose'.
15. "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."
- Robert Burns.
Famous Robert Burns Quotes
In this category, you will find the most iconic Robert Burns quotes along with whisky quotes from Robert Burns and quotes about Scotland by Robert Burns.
16. "I pick my favourite quotations and store them in my mind as ready armour, offensive or defensive, amid the struggle of this turbulent existence."
- Robert Burns, 'The Works Of Robert Burns'.
17. "I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union."
- Robert Burns, 'To A Mouse'.
18. "Lord, we thank, and thee adore,
For temporal gifts we little merit"
- Robert Burns, 'Grace After Meat'.
19. "God knows, I'm no the thing I should be, Nor am I even the thing I could be."
- Robert Burns, 'The Poetical Works Of Robert Burns'.
20. "But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower, it's bloom is shed"
- Robert Burns, 'Tam O'Shanter'.
21. "When Nature her great masterpiece designed,
And framed her last, best work, the human mind,
Her eye intent on all the wondrous plan,
She formed of various stuff the various Man."
- Robert Burns, 'To Robert Graham'.
22. "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."
- Robert Burns, 'The Works Of Robert Burns'.
23. "Suspicion is a heavy armor and with its weight it impedes more than it protects."
- Robert Burns.
24. "In simmer, when the hay was mawn,
And corn wav'd green in ilka field,
While claver blooms white o'er the lea
And roses blaw in ilka beild!"
- Robert Burns, 'The Country Lass'.
25. "The heart that is generous and kind most resembles God."
- Robert Burns.
26. "There's nought but care on ev'ry han',
In every hour that passes, O:
What signifies the life o' man,
An 'twerna for the lasses, O."
- Robert Burns, 'Green Grow The Rashes'.
27. "Gie me ae spark o' Nature's fire,
That's a' the learning I desire."
- Robert Burns, 'Epistle to J. L. K.'.
28. "A woman can make an average man great, and a great man average."
- Robert Burns.
29. "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!"
- Robert Burns, 'To A Mouse'.
30. "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, 'The Works Of Robert Burns'.
Robert Burns Quotes About Love
Here are the finest Robert Burns love quotes.
31. "But to see her was to love her, Love but her, and love forever."
- Robert Burns, 'The Works Of Robert Burns'.
32. "Fain would I hide, what I fear to discover,
Yet long, long too well have I known:
All that has caused this wreck in my bosom,
Is Jenny, fair Jenny alone."
- Robert Burns, 'Fair Jenny'.
33. "My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
- Robert Burns, 'The Poems & Songs Of Robert Burns'.
41. "As light as the air, and as fause as thou's fair,
Thou's broken the heart o' thy ain Jock Rab."
- Robert Burns, 'My Eppie Macnab'.
42. "To make a happy fireside clime
To weans and wife,
That's the true pathos and sublime
Of human life."
- Robert Burns, 'The Life And Works Of Robert Burns'.
43. "To see her is to love her,
And love but her forever;
For nature made her what she is,
And never made anither!"
- Robert Burns,'Bonnie Lesley'.
44. "Once I lov'd a bonie lass,
Ay, and I love her still;
And whilst that virtue warms my breast,
I'll love my handsome Nell."
- Robert Burns, 'Handsome Nell'.
45. "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, 'The Poetical Works Of Robert Burns'.
46. "She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonny wee thing,
This sweet wee wife o' mine."
- Robert Burns, 'The Life And Works Of Robert Burns'.
47. "Now rosy May comes in wi' flowers,
To deck her gay, green-spreading bowers;
And now comes in the happy hours,
To wander wi' my Davie."
- Robert Burns, 'Dainty Davie'.
48. "Where are the joys I have met in the morning,
That danc'd to the lark's early song?"
- Robert Burns, 'Fair Jenny'.
49. "Green sleeves and tartan ties
Mark my true love where she lies."
- Robert Burns, 'Green Sleeves'.
50. "Turn again, thou fair Eliza!
Ae kind blink before we part;
Rue on thy despairing lover,
Can'st thou break his faithfu' heart?"
- Robert Burns, 'Thou Fair Eliza'.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Robert Burns quotes then why not take a look at Alexander Pope quotes, or Dylan Thomas quotes? Article image credit: K.N.Y / Shutterstock.com
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Master of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies
Srija ChandaMaster of Arts specializing in Mass Communication/Media Studies
An aspiring media professional, Srija is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Mass Communication at St. Xavier's University, Kolkata, after completing her degree in journalism. With experience in PR and social media, she has also honed her leadership skills through her participation in a youth parliament. Srija's interests include devouring books, watching movies, and exploring new places through travel.
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