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About this quote

What does it mean?
Social rank is superficial; true worth lies in character.
In plain terms
Titles do not define a person's value.
What can you take from it?
Value people for who they are not their titles.

Where it applies

  • social interactions
  • hiring
  • friendship

Putting it to work

  • look beyond titles
  • respect everyone
  • judge character

Questions to consider

  • What makes a person valuable?
  • How do you treat those with less status?

Another view

Status often dictates access to resources regardless of character.

More from Robert Burns

  1. Lay the proud usurpers low! Tyrants fall in every foe! Liberty's in every blow- Let us do or die!

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  2. A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a' that; But an honest man's aboon his might, Guid faith, he mauna fa' that.

    Permalink to quote #50
  3. Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled, Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed Or to Victorie! Now's the day, and now's the hour; See the front o' …

    Permalink to quote #47

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