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

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

Be a good animal, true to your animal instincts.

The righteous know the needs of their animals, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

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

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?

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.

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.

Animals are good to think with.

Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills.

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.

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.