--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But Mousie, thou art no thy lane In…" description: "\"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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/robert-burns-1511_art_but-mousie-thou-art-no-thy-lane-in-provi_1968983.png" --- # 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/robert-burns-1511_art_but-mousie-thou-art-no-thy-lane-in-provi_1968983.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/robert-burns-1511_art_but-mousie-thou-art-no-thy-lane-in-provi_1968983.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b28/robert-burns-1511_art_but-mousie-thou-art-no-thy-lane-in-provi_1968983.png) > “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](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. 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 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Best laid plans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-laid-plans/) [Foresight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresight/) [Foresight Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresight-vain-1004207/) [Gang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gang/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Grief Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-pain-647976/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Lanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lanes/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mice/) [Mousie Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mousie-thou-3295586/) [Nought Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nought-grief-1004208/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Prove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prove/) [Schemes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes/) [Thou art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-art/) [Thy Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy-lane-3295585/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [“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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [But little Mouse, you are not alone, In proving foresight may be vain: The best laid schemes of mice and men Go often askew,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/but-little-mouse-you-are-not-alone-in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley. An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain, For promis'd joy! (To A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agley-an-lea-e-us-nought/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-plans-of-mice-and-men-often-go-awry/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The best laid plans take 40 years to complete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-plans-take-40-years-to-complete/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men, Gang aft a-gley, And leave us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-a-gley-and-leave-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We all have the best laid plans for our children, and they go and ruin it all by growing up any way they want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-riggle/we-all-have-the-best-laid-plans-for-our-children-and-they-go-and-ruin/) [Kristina Riggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-riggle/) > [“These what-if equations have kept her life static since adolescence. And if life proves one thing, it’s that the best laid plans don’t necessarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-alexander/these-what-if-equations-have-kept-her-life-static-since-adolescence/) [Nick Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-alexander/) > [“Is it dangerous to plan too much? Yes, we all need to plan, to have a plan, but life goes on regardless of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-w-p-garland/is-it-dangerous-to-plan-too-much-yes-we-all-need-to-plan-to-have-a/) [Leslie W.P. Garland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-w-p-garland/) > [Gather up your telegrams Your faded pictures, best laid plans Books and postcards, 45's Every sunset in the sky Carry with you maps and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/gather-up-your-telegrams-your-faded-pictures-best-laid-plans-books/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [The best-laid plans of mice and comedians usually wind up on the cutting-room floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-stewart/the-best-laid-plans-of-mice-and-comedians-usually-wind-up-on-the/) [Jon Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-stewart/) > [Carry with you maps and string, flashlights, friends who make you sing, and stars to help you find your place, music, hope, and amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-chapin-carpenter/carry-with-you-maps-and-string-flashlights-friends-who-make-you-sing/) [Mary Chapin Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-chapin-carpenter/) > [“They say the best laid plans often go a lie, Because no matter how detailed the preparation, A plan will always have a weak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-thorne/they-say-the-best-laid-plans-often-go-a-lie-because-no-matter-how/) [Emily Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-thorne/) > [“The best=laid plans, one's most fastidious contingency strategies have revealed themselves in the cold light of day to be laughably inadequate, no match for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-rakoff/the-best-laid-plans-one-s-most-fastidious-contingency-strategies-have/) [David Rakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-rakoff/) > [I was planning on writing a detailed review of several books on web security tonight, but the Obama collapse has superseded my best-laid plans.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-foster-johnson/i-was-planning-on-writing-a-detailed-review-of-several-books-on-web/) [Charles Foster Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-foster-johnson/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. 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