the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry

English

Alternative forms

• the best laid plans of mice and men go oft astray

Etymology

From a Scots poem by Robert Burns, To a Mouse. In the original Scots, the lines are, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley”.

Proverb

the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry

1. No matter how well a project is planned, accidents or misfortune can still occur.
   • 1785, Robert Burns, To a Mouse:

     But mouse, you are not alone,
     In proving foresight may be vain;
     The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew
     And leave us nothing but grief and pain,
     For promised joy!

   • 1971, Neal Cassady, “Letter to Jack Kerouac, March 7, 1947”, in The First Third, City Lights, page 125:

     Knowing her supremely perfect being was completely mine […] I could conceive of no obstacle to my satisfaction, well, “the best laid plans of mice & men go astray” and my nemesis was her sister, the bitch.

Synonyms

• man plans and God laughs
• man proposes, God disposes

See also

• agley § Usage notes
• accidents will happen in the best regulated families