The trout in yonder wimpling burn – That glides, a silver dart, – And, safe beneath the shady thorn, – Defies the anglers art...
It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.
Oh, stay, sweet warbling woodlark, stay, Nor quit for me the trembling spray, A hapless lover courts thy lay, Thy soothing, fond complaining.
Mankind is an unco squad And muckle he may grieve thee.
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.
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, Flow gently, I’ll sing thee a song in thy praise.
A woman can make an average man great, and a great man average.
What’s done we partly may compute, But know not what’s resisted.
Anticipation forward points the view.
Mankind is a science that defies definitions.
All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath’d with nodding corn.
My Son, these maxims make a rule An lump them ay thegither: The Rigid Righteous is a fool, The Rigid Wise anither.
Suspense is worst than disappointment.
Learn taciturnity and let that be your motto!
I love drinking now and then. It defecates the standing pool of thought. A man perpetually in the paroxysm and fears of inebriety is like a half-drowned stupid wretch condemned to labor unceasingly in water; but a now-and-then tribute to Bacchus is like the cold bath, bracing and invigorating.
Painters and poets have liberty to lie.
Life is but a day at most.
For thus the royal mandate ran, When first the human race began, “The social, friendly honest man, Whate’er he be, Tis he fulfils great Nature’s plan, And none but he!”
My heart is sair-I dare na tell, My heart is sair for Somebody.
Some wee short hour ayont the twal.