The best laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft a-gley; And leave us naught but grief and pain For promised joy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Even careful plans often go wrong, leaving people with pain instead of the happiness they expected.
- In plain terms
- Plans frequently fail and cause sadness instead of joy.
- What can you take from it?
- Expectations often clash with reality.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you recover when plans fail?
- Should we expect less to avoid pain?
Another view
It can feel defeatist if taken as a reason not to try.
More from Robert Burns
I'm truly sorry man's dominion Has broken Nature's social union.
Permalink to quote #3 Nature's law, That man was made to mourn.
Permalink to quote #5 Wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie, O, what a panic's in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi' bickering brattle!
Permalink to quote #2
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