Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.

When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.

Animals are in possession of themselves; their soul is in possession of their body. But they have no right to their life, because they do not will it. 

Man and animals are really the conduit of food, the sepulcher of animals, and resting place of the dead, one causing the death of the other, making themselves the covering for the corruption of other dead bodies.

Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals—except the weasel.

One of the animals which a generous and sociable man would soonest become is a dog. A dog can have a friend; he has affections and character; he can enjoy equally the field and the fireside; he dreams, he caresses, he propitiates; he offends and is pardoned; he stands by you in adversity; he is a good fellow.

I do not mean to call an elephant a vulgar animal, but if you think about him carefully, you will find that his nonvulgarity consists in such gentleness as is possible to elephantine nature—not in his insensitive hide, nor in his clumsy foot, but in the way he will lift his foot if a child lies in his way; and in his sensitive trunk, and still more sensitive mind, and capability of pique on points of honor.

In every man is a wild beast; most of them don’t know how to hold it back, and the majority give it full rein when they are not restrained by terror of law.

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.

Do you not see how God is praised by those in the heavens and those on earth? The very birds praised Him as they wing their way.

Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.

Who hears the fishes when they cry?

Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.