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

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.

There be beasts that, at a year old, observe more, and pursue that which is for their good more prudently, than a child can do at ten.

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

Alas! We are ridiculous animals.

Be a good animal, true to your animal instincts.

How like to us is that filthy beast the ape.

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.

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?

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

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

Every creature in the world is like a book and a picture, to us, and a mirror.

Life is no way to treat an animal.