Is there for honest poverty <br />That hangs his head, an' a' that? <br />The coward slave, we pass him by <br />We dare be poor for a' that. <br />For a' that, an' a' that, <br />Our toil's obscure, and a' that; <br />The rank is but the guinea's stamp,- <br />The man's the gowd for a' that. <br /> <br />What though on hamely fare we dine, <br />Wear hoddin' grey, an' a' that? <br />Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine,- <br />A man's a man, for a' that. <br />For a' that, an' a' that, <br />Their tinsel show an' a' that; <br />The honest man, though e'er sae poor, <br />Is king o' men for a' that. <br /> <br />Ye see yon birkie ca'd a lord, <br />Wha struts an' stares an' a' that,- <br />Tho' hundreds worship at his word, <br />He's but a coof for a' that; <br />For a' that, an' a' that <br />His riband, star, and a' that; <br />The man o' independent mind, <br />He looks an' laughs at a' that. <br /> <br />A prince can mak' a belted knight <br />A marquis, duke, an' a' that; <br />But an honest man's aboon his might,- <br />Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! <br />For a' that, an' a' that; <br />Their dignities an' a' that, <br />The pith o' sense an' pride o' worth, <br />Are higher ranks than a' that. <br /> <br />Then let us pray that come it may,- <br />(As come it will for a' that),- <br />That Sense and Worth, o'er a' the earth, <br />Shall bear the gree an' a' that. <br />For a' that an' a' that, <br />It's coming yet for a' that,- <br />That man to man, the world o'er, <br />Shall brothers be for a' that!<br /><br />Robert Burns<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/for-a-that/
