--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The poor inhabitant below Was quick to…" description: "\"The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know And keenly felt the friendly glow And softer flame; But thoughtless follies laid him low,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/robert-burns-1511_felt_the-poor-inhabitant-below-was-quick-to-l_558023.jpg" --- # The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to… ![“The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know And keenly felt the friendly glow And softer flame; But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain'd his name!” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/robert-burns-1511_felt_the-poor-inhabitant-below-was-quick-to-l_558023.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/robert-burns-1511_felt_the-poor-inhabitant-below-was-quick-to-l_558023.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b6/robert-burns-1511_felt_the-poor-inhabitant-below-was-quick-to-l_558023.jpg) > “The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know And keenly felt the friendly glow And softer flame; But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain'd his name!” [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. A poor person learns quickly, feels kindness, yet is undone by careless mistakes that tarnish his reputation. **In simple terms:** Wise but ruined by thoughtless actions. Key Takeaway Guard against careless deeds. Themes poverty wisdom reputation mistakes Mood cautionary reflective Type poetic moral When to use this quote - daily work - community interactions - personal reputation - learning from errors Key Concepts folly social perception humility Questions to Reflect On - How can humility protect reputation? - What small actions can cause lasting damage? A Different Perspective Even the wise can be undone by small errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-friendly-4631616/) [Flames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flames/) [Folly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folly/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Laid Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laid-low-2702737/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor Inhabitant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-inhabitant-4631614/) [Softer Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/softer-flame-4631615/) [Stains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stains/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [The last of our enemies is laid low.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-attlee/the-last-of-our-enemies-is-laid-low/) [Clement Attlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-attlee/) > [I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. -Psalm 119:25](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/i-am-laid-low-in-the-dust-preserve-my-life-according-to-your-word/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“What laid me low was no mystical vision, no message from God, but a blow of compassion. 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Their memories, their love, their mannerisms, their vocabulary it all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-you-truly-love-someone-a-part-of-you-is-stained-in-their-color/) [Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/) > [Wall must get the weather stain Before they grow the ivy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/wall-must-get-the-weather-stain-before-they-grow-the-ivy/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [The starting point of sanctification is the filthiness, corruption, or stain of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-starting-point-of-sanctification-is-the-filthiness-corruption-or/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [If soot stains your tunic, dye it black. This is vengeance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-bakker/if-soot-stains-your-tunic-dye-it-black-this-is-vengeance/) [R. Scott Bakker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-scott-bakker/) ## 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 Felt quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. 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