When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.

I hate the sight of monkeys; they remind me so of poor relations.

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?

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

Who sleepeth with dogs shall rise with fleas.

An ape will be an ape, though clad in purple.

Cows are among the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their young when deprived of them—and, in short, I am not ashamed to profess a deep love for these quiet creatures.

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.