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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Alas! We are ridiculous animals.

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.

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

Happiness is a warm puppy.

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

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.