A Man's A Man For A' That
by Robert Burns
Is there for honest poverty That hings his head, an' 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 tho' on hamely fare we dine, Wear hoddin gray, an' a' that; Gie fools their silks, 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, though e'er sae poor, Is king o' men for a' that! Ye see yon birkie [Footnote: fellow], ca'd a lord, Wha struts, an' stares, an' a' that; Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a coof [Footnote: fool (pronounce like German _o_ or _oe_)] for a' that; For a' that, an' a' that, His riband, star, an' a' that;
The man of 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 aboon [Footnote: above] his might-- Gude faith, he maunna fa' [Footnote: must not claim (to make the honest man)] that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities, an' a' that, The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth, Are higher ranks than a' that.
Then let us pray that come it may, As come it will for a' that, That sense an' worth, o'er a' the earth, Shall bear the gree, [Footnote: prize] an' a' that. For a' that, an' a' that, It's comin' yet, for a' that-- That man to man, the warld o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that.