This web-site's name, For All That, is a reference to this poem of Robert Burns which expresses the honest worth and equality of human beings, poor or grand, as human beings. The theme of the web-site is demystification and Burns sees through appearances.
Apologies for his apparent gender bias. But the poetry would be destroyed if politically corrected! Please broaden the meaning of 'man' to refer to the human race!
A Man's A Man For A' That By Robert Burns
Is there for honest poverty, That hangs his head and a' that, The coward slave we pass him by, We dare be puir for a' that. For a' that, an' a' that, Our toils obscure an' a' that, The rank is but the guinea stamp; The man's the gowd for a' that.
What tho' on hamely fare we dine, Wear hodden grey 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 tho' e'er sae puir, Is king o' men for a' that.
Ye see yon birkie, ca'd a lord, Wha struts and stares, an' a' that, Tho' hundreds worship at his word, He's but a cuif, for a' that. For a' that, an' a' that, His ribbon star, an' a' that, The man o' independent mind, he looks and laughs at a' that.
A king can mak' a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that, But an honest man's abune his might, Gude faith he maunna fa' that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities, an' a' that, The pith o' sense, the 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 and worth o'er a' the earth, May bear the gree 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.