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

— Robert Burns, To The Reverend John M'Math, st. 8 (Posthumous Pieces, 1799)

About Robert Burns

1759 – 1796

Scottish poet and lyricist, regarded as the national poet of Scotland.

“Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing.”

“The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley; And leave us naught but grief and pain For promised joy.”

“Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn.”

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”

Attribution note: Source disputed or unverified.

“The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”