"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!"
Here's why:
* Jenny's vanity: The poem centers on Jenny, a woman who is unaware of the louse crawling on her head. Burns uses the louse as a symbol of her vanity, implying that she is too focused on her own appearance to notice the flaw.
* The line's meaning: This line expresses the desire to see oneself as others see us, suggesting that if Jenny could see herself through the eyes of others, she would see her vanity and the louse. It highlights the irony of her situation, as she is oblivious to a very visible flaw that others can easily see.
This line is the central theme of the poem and is a powerful commentary on human vanity and the importance of self-awareness.