--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Is there for honest Poverty That hings…" description: "\"“Is there for honest Poverty That hings his head, an' a' that; The coward slave-we pass him by, We dare be poor for a' that! For a' that, an' a' that. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/robert-burns-1511_brotherhood_is-there-for-honest-poverty-that-hings-h_1368759.png" --- # Is there for honest Poverty That hings his head, an' a'… ![“Is there for honest Poverty That hings his head, an' a' that; The coward slave-we pass him by, We dare be poor for a' that! For a' that, an' a' that. Our toils obscure an' a' that, The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The Man's the gowd for a' that. What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin…” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/robert-burns-1511_brotherhood_is-there-for-honest-poverty-that-hings-h_1368759.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/robert-burns-1511_brotherhood_is-there-for-honest-poverty-that-hings-h_1368759.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/311/robert-burns-1511_brotherhood_is-there-for-honest-poverty-that-hings-h_1368759.png) > ““Is there for honest Poverty That hings his head, an' a' that; The coward slave-we pass him by, We dare be poor for a' that! For a' that, an' a' that. Our toils obscure an' a' that, The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The Man's the gowd for a' that. What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin grey, an' a that; Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine; A Man's a Man for a' that: For a' that, and a' that, Their tinsel show, an' a' that; The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor, Is king o' men for a' that. Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that; Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that: For a' that, an' a' that, His ribband, star, an' a' that: The man o' independent mind He looks an' laughs at a' that. A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's abon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities an' a' that; The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth, Are higher rank than a' that. Then let us pray that come it may, (As come it will for a' that,) That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree, an' a' that. For a' that, an' a' that, It's coming yet for a' that, That Man to Man, the world o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that.”” [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. The poem celebrates intrinsic human worth over social rank, urging respect for honesty and equality regardless of wealth or title. **In simple terms:** True worth lies in character, not status. Key Takeaway Value character over status. Themes equality human dignity honesty social critique individualism Mood defiant hopeful inspirational Type poetic philosophical social commentary When to use this quote - political activism - education - community building - personal development - advocacy Key Concepts intrinsic worth class critique moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can we practice true equality in daily life? - What barriers prevent honest people from being valued? A Different Perspective The poem’s idealism may overlook systemic barriers that prevent equality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brotherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brotherhood/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Man To Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-to-man/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [A man's a man for a' that. . . . . A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/a-man-s-a-man-for-a-that-a-prince-can-mak-a-belted-knight-a-marquis/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“Every decent man of our time is and is bound to be a coward and a slave. This is his normal condition. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/every-decent-man-of-our-time-is-and-is-bound-to-be-a-coward-and-a/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [“I was a coward and a slave. I say this without the slightest embarrassment. Every decent man of our age must be a coward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-was-a-coward-and-a-slave-i-say-this-without-the-slightest/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [Honest poverty is a gem that even a king might be proud to call his own - but I wish to sell out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/honest-poverty-is-a-gem-that-even-a-king-might-be-proud-to-call-his/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It is a law of nature that every decent man on earth is bound to be a coward and a slave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-that-every-decent-man-on-earth-is-bound-to-be-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Riches are gotten with pain, kept with care, and lost with grief. The cares of riches lie heavier upon a good man than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-l-estrange/riches-are-gotten-with-pain-kept-with-care-and-lost-with-grief-the/) [Roger L'Estrange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-l-estrange/) > [No, I have no desire for riches. Honest poverty and a conscience, torpid through virtuous inaction, are more to me than corner lots and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/no-i-have-no-desire-for-riches-honest-poverty-and-a-conscience-torpid/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Every decent man of our age must be a coward and a slave. That is his normal condition. Of that I am firmly persuaded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-decent-man-of-our-age-must-be-a-coward-and-a-slave-that-is-his/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I wish to become rich, so that I can instruct the people and glorify honest poverty a little, like those kind hearted, fat, benevolent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-wish-to-become-rich-so-that-i-can-instruct-the-people-and-glorify/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [From scenes like these old Scotia's grandeur springs, That makes her loved at home, revered abroad: Princes and lords are but the breath of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/from-scenes-like-these-old-scotia-s-grandeur-springs-that-makes-her/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The social, friendly, honest man, Whate'er he be, 'Tis he fulfils great Nature's plan, And none but he.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-social-friendly-honest-man-whate-er-he-be-tis-he-fulfils-great/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/for-thus-the-royal-mandate-ran-when-first-the-human-race-began-the/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The honest man, though e'er sae poor, Is king o' men, for a' that!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-honest-man-though-e-er-sae-poor-is-king-o-men-for-a-that/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might: Guid faith, he maunna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/a-prince-can-mak-a-belted-knight-a-marquis-duke-and-a-that-but-an/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [All my fears and cares are of this world; if there is another, an honest man has nothing to fear from it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/all-my-fears-and-cares-are-of-this-world-if-there-is-another-an/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) ## 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 Brotherhood quotes > [ The best way to marginalize the Muslim Brotherhood \[in Egypt\] is in the ballot box, not through arrests and killing people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ayotte/the-best-way-to-marginalize-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-egypt-is-in-the/) [Kelly Ayotte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ayotte/) > [Saying that the origin of the Islamic State (IS) is within the Muslim Brotherhood organisation only strengthens IS.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/saying-that-the-origin-of-the-islamic-state-is-is-within-the-muslim/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [“All the same I keep on looking for someone incomprehensible who won't understand me either, because I have a terrible thirst for brotherhood”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-ajar/all-the-same-i-keep-on-looking-for-someone-incomprehensible-who-won-t/) Emile Ajar > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [This is me and my older brother alasandro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brother/this-is-me-and-my-older-brother-alasandro/) Brother > [You may call for peace as loudly as you wish, but where there is no brotherhood there can in the end be no peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lerner/you-may-call-for-peace-as-loudly-as-you-wish-but-where-there-is-no/) [Max Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lerner/) > [Forgiving the men who killed my parents and brother was a process, a journey into deeper and deeper prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immaculee-ilibagiza/forgiving-the-men-who-killed-my-parents-and-brother-was-a-process-a/) [Immaculee Ilibagiza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immaculee-ilibagiza/) > [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/) [Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [My brothers and I would try to talk our dad into letting us stay up and watch 'Star Trek.' I remember watching it and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-lin/my-brothers-and-i-would-try-to-talk-our-dad-into-letting-us-stay-up/) [Justin Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-lin/) > [I work incredibly hard - just like every other person in business and work. And aside from the fact of, yes, I am the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-william-middleton/i-work-incredibly-hard-just-like-every-other-person-in-business-and/) [James William Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-william-middleton/) > [I have 10 brothers and sisters. 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For a' that, an' a' that. Our toils obscure an' a' that, The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The Man's the gowd for a' that. What though on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin grey, an' a that; Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine; A Man's a Man for a' that: For a' that, and a' that, Their tinsel show, an' a' that; The honest man, tho' e'er sae poor, Is king o' men for a' that. Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that; Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof for a' that: For a' that, an' a' that, His ribband, star, an' a' that: The man o' independent mind He looks an' laughs at a' that. A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's abon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities an' a' that; The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth, Are higher rank than a' that. Then let us pray that come it may, (As come it will for a' that,) That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree, an' a' that. 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