Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men, but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compass.

Alas! We are ridiculous animals.

Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.

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.

Animals are good to think with.

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

A good dog, sir, deserves a good bone.

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.

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

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

Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all. 

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

Man and animals are really the conduit of food, the sepulcher of animals, and resting place of the dead, one causing the death of the other, making themselves the covering for the corruption of other dead bodies.