A Man’s A Man for A’that

by Robert Burns

Is there for honest poverty

That hings his head and 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 gray, an a’that;

Gie fools their silk, and knaves their wine;

A Man’s a Man for a’that:

For a’that, an a’that,

Their tinsel show, an a’that;

The honest man, tho e’er sae poor,

Is king of men for a’that.

Ye see yon birkie, ca’d a lord,

Wha struts, and 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 mauna fa’that!

For a’that, an a’that,

Their dignities an a’that;

The pith o’sense, an pride ‘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, and a’that,

It’s coming yet for a’that,

That Man to Man, the world o’er,

Shall brothers be for a’that.