Man is a troublesome animal and therefore is not very manageable.

A bull contents himself with one meadow, and one forest is enough for a thousand elephants; but the little body of a man devours more than all other living creatures.

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.

Who hears the fishes when they cry?

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

It is remarkable that only small birds properly sing.

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

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

How like to us is that filthy beast the ape.

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.

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

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

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?