The best-laid schemes of mice and men

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Meaning

Even carefully made plans can be defeated by events beyond anyone's control. Literary but widely recognized. 'Schemes' is Burns's wording; 'plans' is the usual modern adaptation. Regional use: Scots literary origin; now general English.

Origin

Robert Burns wrote the line in 'To a Mouse' in 1785; the poem was published in 1786. Burns's Scots continues that such schemes often go awry. Modern speakers frequently replace 'schemes' with 'plans' and quote only the first half, but the idea remains the fragility of preparation in an unpredictable world.

Research Sources

  1. Of mice and ice Poetry Foundation
  2. Best-laid plans Cambridge University Press

Variants

  • The best-laid plans of mice and men
  • The best-laid plans often go awry

Usage Examples

  • The best-laid schemes of mice and men were undone by a washed-out bridge.
  • Our permits arrived after the festival, another case of the best-laid plans going awry.
  • She smiled at the cancelled timetable and invoked the best-laid plans of mice and men.

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