--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In proving foresight may be vain: The…" description: "\"“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!”\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png" --- # In proving foresight may be vain: The best-laid schemes o'… ![“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/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png) > ““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 planning, leading to unexpected sorrow and disappointment. **In simple terms:** Even careful plans can go wrong. Key Takeaway Accept uncertainty and adapt. Themes fate plan disappointment Mood melancholic reflective Type literary cautionary When to use this quote - personal projects - business strategies - relationships - political campaigns Key Concepts human frailty unexpected outcomes Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when plans collapse? - What can you learn from unforeseen setbacks? A Different Perspective Plans cannot control all variables; external forces may dominate. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Foresight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresight/) [Foresight Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresight-vain-1004207/) [Grief Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief-pain-647976/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nought Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nought-grief-1004208/) [Schemes Mice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schemes-mice-1004209/) ## Related quotes > [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'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/but-mousie-thou-art-no-thy-lane-in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the/) [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 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/) > [“The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agle”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agle/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The best laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agley/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us naught but grief an' pain For promised joy! Still thou art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men-gang-aft-agley-an-lea-e-us-naught/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“Honor your grief and the pain you feel when you lose a beloved pet. It is the first step toward healing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-anderson/honor-your-grief-and-the-pain-you-feel-when-you-lose-a-beloved-pet-it/) [Karen A Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-a-anderson/) > [“Here we suffer grief and pain, Here we meet to part again; In Heaven we part no more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/here-we-suffer-grief-and-pain-here-we-meet-to-part-again-in-heaven-we/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [And then it was, that grief and pain made themselves known to me as never before. Note this, because I knew the full absurdity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/and-then-it-was-that-grief-and-pain-made-themselves-known-to-me-as/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [I hate you 4 causing me so much grief and pain, but u never seem 2 change maybe I should've stayed gone, and forever hate you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author-name/i-hate-you-4-causing-me-so-much-grief-and-pain-but-u-never-seem-2/) [Author Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/author-name/) > [We are not strong enough to stand up against endless grief, And yet pain is the constant drone of life. So if we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/we-are-not-strong-enough-to-stand-up-against-endless-grief-and-yet/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [“...there's the suffering from love and the suffering from grief - either pain permanently scars the soul...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/there-s-the-suffering-from-love-and-the-suffering-from-grief-either/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [Grief. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/grief-the-pain-now-is-part-of-the-happiness-then-that-s-the-deal/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“It is the capacity to feel consuming grief and pain and despair that also allows me to embrace love and joy and beauty with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-white/it-is-the-capacity-to-feel-consuming-grief-and-pain-and-despair-that/) [Anna White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-white/) ## 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 Foresight quotes > [“We ought to live each day as though it were our last day here below. But if I did, alas, I know it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piet-hein/we-ought-to-live-each-day-as-though-it-were-our-last-day-here-below/) [Piet Hein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piet-hein/) > [Often a certain abdication of prudence and foresight is an element of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/often-a-certain-abdication-of-prudence-and-foresight-is-an-element-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The superpowers often behave like two heavily armed blind men feeling their way around a room, each believing himself in mortal peril from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-superpowers-often-behave-like-two-heavily-armed-blind-men-feeling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Visionary companies make some of their best moves by experimentation, trial and error, opportunism, and—quite literally—accident. What looks in retrospect like brilliant foresight and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-collins/visionary-companies-make-some-of-their-best-moves-by-experimentation/) [Jim Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-collins/) > [Through my time in the military and my deployments, I have recognized the importance of having a Commander in Chief who will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/through-my-time-in-the-military-and-my-deployments-i-have-recognized/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [“Systemic disruption requires us to accept that there may be no measurable data to fully substantiate our understanding of those disruptions. Imaging and exploring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spitz/systemic-disruption-requires-us-to-accept-that-there-may-be-no/) [Roger Spitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spitz/) > [One way of building private foresight out of public data is looking where others aren't ... if you want to see the future, go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-hamel/one-way-of-building-private-foresight-out-of-public-data-is-looking/) [Gary Hamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-hamel/) > [One can have only as much preparation as he has foresight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/one-can-have-only-as-much-preparation-as-he-has-foresight/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [What a curious picture it is to find man, homo sapiens, of divine origin, we are told, seriously considering going underground to escape the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-william-fulbright/what-a-curious-picture-it-is-to-find-man-homo-sapiens-of-divine/) [J. William Fulbright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-william-fulbright/) > [We can predict the present without having to know everything about the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-barrow/we-can-predict-the-present-without-having-to-know-everything-about/) [John D. Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-barrow/) > [“Vision is the foresight or forecast or insight into the future. Vision is the picture of one's destiny or accomplishment, or simply what a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/vision-is-the-foresight-or-forecast-or-insight-into-the-future-vision/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“I can foreseen the fulfillment of my the visions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-can-foreseen-the-fulfillment-of-my-the-visions/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Reality looks much more obvious in hindsight than in foresight. People who experience hindsight bias misapply current hindsight to past foresight. They perceive events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hersh-shefrin/reality-looks-much-more-obvious-in-hindsight-than-in-foresight-people/) [Hersh Shefrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hersh-shefrin/) > [This antitrust thing will blow over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/this-antitrust-thing-will-blow-over/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Where is the good of planning upon an "if?" To trust is to get ready, uncle says. Trust is better than foresight.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/where-is-the-good-of-planning-upon-an-if-to-trust-is-to-get-ready/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) [Browse all 252 Foresight quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foresight/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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!”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Burns" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Foresight" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2a/robert-burns-1511_foresight_in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-bes_2494986.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In proving foresight may be vain: The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley, An' lea'e us nought…” — 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": "“In proving foresight may be vain:...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/in-proving-foresight-may-be-vain-the-best-laid-schemes-o-mice-an-men/#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 } } ] } ```