On Politics by Robert Burns
The speaker advises a person of modest means who would enter politics to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye, leaving the powerful to hear and see.
By Robert Burns · Genre: Epigram, Political Satire · 39 words
First lines
In Politics if thou would'st mix, / And mean thy fortunes be; / Bear this in mind,-be deaf and blind, / Let great folk hear and see.
Genres
- Epigram — Four rhyming lines compress political advice into a pointed contrast between modest fortunes and powerful people.
- Political Satire — The advice to remain deaf and blind mocks the deference expected from people of modest means in politics.
Tags
politics · power · social hierarchy · deference · epigram
What this Textopian page supports
On Politics is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Epigram, Political Satire
- Length: 39 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
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