Alas! We are ridiculous animals.

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.

I hate the sight of monkeys; they remind me so of poor relations.

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

Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape.

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.

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.

What delight can there be, and not rather displeasure, in hearing the barking and howling of dogs? Or what greater pleasure is there to be felt when a dog followeth a hare than when a dog followeth a dog?

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.

There be beasts that, at a year old, observe more, and pursue that which is for their good more prudently, than a child can do at ten.

Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all. 

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.

The righteous know the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.