--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And man, whose heav'n-erected face The…" description: "\"“And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!”\" — Robert Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg" --- # And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love… ![“And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg) > ““And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!”” [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. He laments that humanity’s capacity for love is marred by cruelty, causing widespread sorrow. **In simple terms:** Human love is shadowed by cruelty, causing sorrow. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and combat human cruelty. Themes humanity love cruelty misery Mood somber poetic Type reflective philosophical When to use this quote - war - social injustice - personal betrayal - cultural conflict - emotional trauma Key Concepts social criticism poetry Questions to Reflect On - How can love overcome cruelty? - What actions reduce collective sorrow? A Different Perspective The poetic language may obscure practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity/) [Inhumanity Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhumanity-man-372990/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Man Inhumanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-inhumanity-372991/) [Man's Inhumanity To Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mans-inhumanity-to-man/) [Mourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mourn/) [Thousands Mourn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousands-mourn-2437133/) ## Related quotes > [Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-makes-countless-thousands-mourn/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Nature's law, That man was made to mourn. Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn! O Death, the poor man's dearest friend, The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/nature-s-law-that-man-was-made-to-mourn-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-makes/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“Man's inhumanity to man will continue as long as man loves God more than he loves his fellow man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lewis/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-will-continue-as-long-as-man-loves-god-more/) [Joseph Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lewis/) > [The chief source of man's inhumanity to man seems to be the tribal limits of his sense of obligation to other men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/the-chief-source-of-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-seems-to-be-the-tribal/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [Man's inhumanity to man is as old as humanity itself. Some people just do evil things. Most do not. A billion people have seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-sutter/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-is-as-old-as-humanity-itself-some-people-just/) [Kurt Sutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-sutter/) > [I find man's inhumanity to man extraordinary,,, I can't get my head around it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-wright/i-find-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-extraordinary-i-can-t-get-my-head/) [Joe Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-wright/) > [“My purpose in writing novels is to expose man's inhumanity to man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-compass/my-purpose-in-writing-novels-is-to-expose-man-s-inhumanity-to-man/) [Carly Compass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-compass/) > [Man's inhumanity to man is only surpassed by his cruelty to animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-is-only-surpassed-by-his-cruelty-to-animals/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The only way in which one can make endurable man's inhumanity to man, and man's destruction of his own environment, is to exemplify in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/the-only-way-in-which-one-can-make-endurable-man-s-inhumanity-to-man/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [As long as there is unemployment, war, crime and all things that go to the infliction of man's inhumanity to man, regardless - there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosa-parks/as-long-as-there-is-unemployment-war-crime-and-all-things-that-go-to/) [Rosa Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosa-parks/) > [Man's inhumanity to man is not the last word. The truth lies deeper. It is economic slavery, the savage struggle for a crumb, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-berkman/man-s-inhumanity-to-man-is-not-the-last-word-the-truth-lies-deeper-it/) [Alexander Berkman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-berkman/) > [There is only one way in which one can endure man's inhumanity to man and that is to try, in one's own life, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-paton/there-is-only-one-way-in-which-one-can-endure-man-s-inhumanity-to-man/) [Alan Paton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-paton/) > [I am constantly amazed by man's inhumanity to man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/i-am-constantly-amazed-by-man-s-inhumanity-to-man/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [When people start talking of man's inhumanity to man it means they haven't actually walked far enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-people-start-talking-of-man-s-inhumanity-to-man-it-means-they/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We have been slow to recognize the degree to which religious faith perpetuates man's inhumanity to man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-have-been-slow-to-recognize-the-degree-to-which-religious-faith/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) ## More by Robert Burns > [Some wee short hour ayont the twal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-wee-short-hour-ayont-the-twal/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The snowdrop and primrose our woodlands adorn, and violets bathe in the wet o' the morn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-snowdrop-and-primrose-our-woodlands-adorn-and-violets-bathe-in/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Oh my luve's like a red, red rose, That's newly sprung in June; Oh my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly played in tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/oh-my-luve-s-like-a-red-red-rose-that-s-newly-sprung-in-june-oh-my/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Again rejoicing Nature sees Her robe assume its vernal hues Her leafy locks wave in the breeze, All freshly steep'd in the morning dews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/again-rejoicing-nature-sees-her-robe-assume-its-vernal-hues-her-leafy/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Gin a body meet a body Coming thro' the rye, Gin a body kiss a body— Need a body cry?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/gin-a-body-meet-a-body-coming-thro-the-rye-gin-a-body-kiss-a-body/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/o-wad-some-power-the-giftie-gie-us-to-see-oursels-as-ithers-see-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Liberty's in every blow! Let us do or die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/liberty-s-in-every-blow-let-us-do-or-die/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Dare to be honest and fear no labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/dare-to-be-honest-and-fear-no-labor/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Look abroad through Nature's range, Nature's mighty law is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/look-abroad-through-nature-s-range-nature-s-mighty-law-is-change/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [ “All-cheering Plenty, with her flowing horn, Led yellow Autumn, wreath'd with nodding corn." \[ Brigs of Ayr \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/all-cheering-plenty-with-her-flowing-horn-led-yellow-autumn-wreath-d/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [To make three guineas do the work of five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/to-make-three-guineas-do-the-work-of-five/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Some books are lies frae end to end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/some-books-are-lies-frae-end-to-end/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Who made the heart, 'tis He alone Decidedly can try us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/who-made-the-heart-tis-he-alone-decidedly-can-try-us/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.--Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/nursing-her-wrath-to-keep-it-warm-robert-burns/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/it-is-cruelty-to-be-humane-to-rebels-and-humanity-is-cruelty/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) [Explore all 233 Robert Burns quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## More Grief quotes > [“...they had lived, they'd lived intensely. But no matter how deeply you live, it comes to this in the end: one of you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-morton/they-had-lived-they-d-lived-intensely-but-no-matter-how-deeply-you/) [Brian Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-morton/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [You felt a deep sorrow, the kind of melancholy you feel when you're in a beautiful place and the sun is going down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thrity-umrigar/you-felt-a-deep-sorrow-the-kind-of-melancholy-you-feel-when-you-re-in/) [Thrity Umrigar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thrity-umrigar/) > [... how much of our inner substance is it good for us to give to public griefs? The whole modern tendency to agonize over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/how-much-of-our-inner-substance-is-it-good-for-us-to-give-to-public/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When we learn to attribute meaning to the events in our lives, we connect with our Higher Purpose, Higher Wisdom, or Source; we become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-barbara-apollon/when-we-learn-to-attribute-meaning-to-the-events-in-our-lives-we/) [Susan Barbara Apollon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-barbara-apollon/) > [Only to have a grief equal to all these tears!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/only-to-have-a-grief-equal-to-all-these-tears/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Suppressed grief suffocates, it rages within the breast, and is forced to multiply its strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/suppressed-grief-suffocates-it-rages-within-the-breast-and-is-forced/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [That Woman is in love with her own grief.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/that-woman-is-in-love-with-her-own-grief/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/these-days-grief-seems-like-walking-on-a-frozen-river-most-of-the/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [“You've been my beacon of light in my storm of grief, and I don't know if I could live without you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/you-ve-been-my-beacon-of-light-in-my-storm-of-grief-and-i-don-t-know/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) [Browse all 8,012 Grief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless thousands mourn!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-smiles-of-love-adorn-man-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grief" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-smiles-of-love-adorn-man-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba8/robert-burns-1511_grief_and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-sm_741897.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“And man, whose heav'n-erected face The smiles of love adorn Man's inhumanity to man Makes countless…” — Robert Burns", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Burns", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“And man, whose heav'n-erected face The...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-smiles-of-love-adorn-man-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/and-man-whose-heav-n-erected-face-the-smiles-of-love-adorn-man-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```