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

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. 

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

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.

A good dog, sir, deserves a good bone.

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.

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

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

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.

Who sleepeth with dogs shall rise with fleas.

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

Who hears the fishes when they cry?

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.