--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We will drain our dearest veins, But they…" description: "\"“We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free.”\" — Robert Burns" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/robert-burns-1511_drain_we-will-drain-our-dearest-veins-but-they_2921329.png" --- # We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free. ![“We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free.” quote by Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/robert-burns-1511_drain_we-will-drain-our-dearest-veins-but-they_2921329.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/robert-burns-1511_drain_we-will-drain-our-dearest-veins-but-they_2921329.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/robert-burns-1511_drain_we-will-drain-our-dearest-veins-but-they_2921329.png) > ““We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free.”” [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. Sacrifice personal vitality for freedom, suggesting that true liberty may demand profound personal cost. **In simple terms:** Freedom may require giving up what you cherish. Key Takeaway Recognize the price of liberty and honor it. Themes freedom sacrifice patriotism Mood determined reflective Type poetic political When to use this quote - activism - military service - civil rights movements - personal decisions Key Concepts political philosophy personal cost Questions to Reflect On - What are you willing to sacrifice for freedom? - Is sacrifice always necessary for liberty? A Different Perspective Idealized sacrifice can overlook individual well‑being. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Scotland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scotland/) [Scottish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scottish/) ## Related quotes > [By Oppression's woes and pains! By your sons in servile chains! We will drain our dearest veins, But they shall be free! Lay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/by-oppression-s-woes-and-pains-by-your-sons-in-servile-chains-we-will/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [But gentlemen, as long as I am an American Citizen, and as long as American blood runs in these veins, I shall hold myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elijah-parish-lovejoy/but-gentlemen-as-long-as-i-am-an-american-citizen-and-as-long-as/) Elijah Parish Lovejoy > [“Now I am going to destroy my heart myself, and pour my blood into your veins. I shall be happy if a new life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soseki-natsume/now-i-am-going-to-destroy-my-heart-myself-and-pour-my-blood-into-your/) [Sōseki Natsume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soseki-natsume/) > [It 's guid to be merry and wise, It 's guid to be honest and true, It 's guid to support Caledonia's cause, And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/it-s-guid-to-be-merry-and-wise-it-s-guid-to-be-honest-and-true-it-s/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [The appellation of a Scottish Bard is by far my highest pride; to continue to deserve it is my most exalted ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/the-appellation-of-a-scottish-bard-is-by-far-my-highest-pride-to/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [ \[Scottish songs\] are, I own, frequently wild, & unreduceable to the more modern rules; but on that very eccentricity, perhaps, depends a great part… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/scottish-songs-are-i-own-frequently-wild-unreduceable-to-the-more/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [My heart 's in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart 's in the Highlands a-chasing the deer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-burns/my-heart-s-in-the-highlands-my-heart-is-not-here-my-heart-s-in-the/) [Robert Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-burns/) > [“Make me a captive, Lord, And then I shall be free; Force me to render up my sword, And I shall conqueror be. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matheson/make-me-a-captive-lord-and-then-i-shall-be-free-force-me-to-render-up/) [George Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matheson/) > [He who gives away shall have real gain. He who subdues himself shall be free; he shall cease to be a slave of passions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddha/he-who-gives-away-shall-have-real-gain-he-who-subdues-himself-shall/) [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddha/) > [“You can burn down my churches. But I shall be free.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-and-garfunkel/you-can-burn-down-my-churches-but-i-shall-be-free/) [Simon and Garfunkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-and-garfunkel/) > [The public schools shall be free from sectarian influences and, above all, free from any attitude of hostility to the adherents of any particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/the-public-schools-shall-be-free-from-sectarian-influences-and-above/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [When the skies and the oceans are clean again. Then we shall be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/when-the-skies-and-the-oceans-are-clean-again-then-we-shall-be-free/) [Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/) > [Our contest is not only whether we ourselves shall be free, but whether there shall be left to mankind an asylum on earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-adams/our-contest-is-not-only-whether-we-ourselves-shall-be-free-but/) [Samuel Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-adams/) > [My life shall be free and broad and great, and I will not be the slave to the sense delights which chained my ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/my-life-shall-be-free-and-broad-and-great-and-i-will-not-be-the-slave/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## 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 Drain quotes > [“Coercing attitude drains your strength.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/coercing-attitude-drains-your-strength/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Drains A drain is a mechanic that determines the consumption of resources—that is, a rule specifying how resources permanently drop out of the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-adams/drains-a-drain-is-a-mechanic-that-determines-the-consumption-of/) [Ernest Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-adams/) > [“I need to drain the thermodynamic fluid from my bathos tub.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-need-to-drain-the-thermodynamic-fluid-from-my-bathos-tub/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [How many times do I have to tell you? You have to jam your rod in there really hard, push it in as hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-s/how-many-times-do-i-have-to-tell-you-you-have-to-jam-your-rod-in/) Mike\_S > [You need to shelter yourself from the abrasive forces of life that drain you and keep you in a lower state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-need-to-shelter-yourself-from-the-abrasive-forces-of-life-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“drain off some spinal fluid (huge”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mooney/drain-off-some-spinal-fluid-huge/) [Ken Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mooney/) > [“Complaints drain joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/complaints-drain-joy/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“It’s also sweaty as balls in Dublin at the moment, so any attempt to stick tape to me and keep this in place was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mooney/it-s-also-sweaty-as-balls-in-dublin-at-the-moment-so-any-attempt-to/) [Ken Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mooney/) > [The trouble with going with the flow is, you might wind up getting sucked down the drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-trouble-with-going-with-the-flow-is-you-might-wind-up-getting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't like to sing things that just sound like they're going straight down the tubes, and they're circling the drain, and there's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-dylan/i-don-t-like-to-sing-things-that-just-sound-like-they-re-going/) [Jakob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-dylan/) > [It is ironic that we are particular about flushing out all the dirt through the Drain,but we continue to retain a lot of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/it-is-ironic-that-we-are-particular-about-flushing-out-all-the-dirt/) RVM > [Start washin' all our worries down the drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-bryan/start-washin-all-our-worries-down-the-drain/) [Luke Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-bryan/) > [“If there's black tar in that well, you won't find fresh flowers when you drain it”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-m-rk/if-there-s-black-tar-in-that-well-you-won-t-find-fresh-flowers-when/) Christian Mørk > [I'm always having a good day and then once I get home that all goes down the drain...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-always-having-a-good-day-and-then-once-i-get-home-that-all-goes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is an appalling thing to feel all one possesses drain away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/it-is-an-appalling-thing-to-feel-all-one-possesses-drain-away/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) Browse all 66 Drain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": 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