Alas! We are ridiculous animals.

It is remarkable that only small birds properly sing.

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

Keep running after a dog, and he will never bite you.

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

Man is a noble animal, splendid in ashes and pompous in the grave.

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.

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.

Be a good animal, true to your animal instincts.

Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king’s horses.

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.

If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater, suggest that he wear a tail.

There are some who, if a cat accidentally comes into the room, though they neither see it nor are told of it, will presently be in a sweat and ready to die away.