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.

Imitate the ass in his love to his master.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape.

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

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