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

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

Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king’s horses.

Animals are good to think with.

How like to us is that filthy beast the ape.

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

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.

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. 

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?

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

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.

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

Happiness is a warm puppy.