Scottish Quotations from Robert Burns

My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;
My heart's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer;
Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe,
My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.
Robert Burns, (1759 - 1796)
Scottish poet. My Heart's in the Highlands.

Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon,
How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair;
How can ye chant, ye little birds,
And I sae weary fu' o' care!
Robert Burns, The Banks o' Doon

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed,--
Or to victorie.
Now's the day, and now's the hour;
See the front o' battle lour;
See approach proud Edward's power,
Chains and slaverie.
Robert Burns.

It was a' for our rightfu' King
We left fair Scotland's strand.
'It was a' for our Rightfu' King' (1796)
Robert Burns.

To make a happy fireside clime
To weans and wife,
That's the true pathos and sublime
Of human life.
Robert Burns.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o' lang syne?
Robert Burns - Auld Lang Syne

Burns possessed the power of a crushing sarcasm, which
he was not loth, on fitting occasion, to administer. He was standing on the quay at Greenock, when a prosperous merchant of the place happened to fall into the water. Being unable to swim, he had certainly perished had not a sailor at once plunged after him, and, at the risk of his own life, rescued him from his perilous situation. The merchant drew his purse, and gave the sailor a shilling. The bystanders protested as to the contemptible nature of the reward, when Burns, coming forward, entreated them to refrain. ‘Surely,’ said he, with a smile of scorn, ‘the gentleman is the best judge of the value of his own life.’

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