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But Mousie, thou art no thy lane In proving foresight may…

“But Mousie, thou art no thy lane In proving foresight may be vain The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain For promis'd joy!” quote by Robert Burns
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“But Mousie, thou art no thy lane In proving foresight may be vain 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

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Plans often fail despite careful preparation, leading to unexpected loss and sorrow

In simple terms: Even best plans can go wrong

Key Takeaway

Accept unpredictability; learn resilience

Themes

humor human nature fate

Mood

melancholic reflective

Type

literary cautionary

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • business ventures
  • creative projects
  • personal expectations

Key Concepts

Scottish poetry determinism

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you cope when plans collapse?
  • What can you learn from unexpected failures?
A Different Perspective

Plans can’t control outcomes; overreliance on foresight may cause disappointment

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