Men, my dear, are very queer animals—a mixture of horse nervousness, ass stubbornness, and camel malice.

When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.

Who sleepeth with dogs shall rise with fleas.

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.

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

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

Animals are in possession of themselves; their soul is in possession of their body. But they have no right to their life, because they do not will it. 

Animals are good to think with.

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

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

Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.

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

Life is no way to treat an animal.