Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men, but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compass.

A dog starved at his master’s gate / Predicts the ruin of the state.

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.

An ape will be an ape, though clad in purple.

Cows are among the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them—and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures.

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.

The fox knows lots of tricks, the hedgehog only one—but it’s a winner.

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

Man is merely a more perfect animal than the rest. He reasons better.

The elephant, although a gross beast, is yet the most decent and most sensible of any other upon earth. Although he never changes his female, and hath so tender a love for her whom he hath chosen, yet he never couples with her but at the end of every three years, and then only for the space of five days.

Of all the creatures that breathe and creep on the surface of the earth, none is more to be pitied than man.

How like to us is that filthy beast the ape.

Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.