Man is merely a more perfect animal than the rest. He reasons better.
—Napoleon Bonaparte, 1816Quotes
Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It’s what separates us from the animals—except the weasel.
—The Simpsons, 1993An ape will be an ape, though clad in purple.
—Erasmus, 1511Animals, 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.
—Joseph Addison, 1711Animals are good to think with.
—Claude Lévi-Strauss, 1962There 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.
—Thomas Hobbes, 1651How like to us is that filthy beast the ape.
—Cicero, 45 BCThere are some who, if a cat accidentally comes into the room, though they neither see it nor are told of it, will presently be in a sweat and ready to die away.
—Increase Mather, 1684Who sleepeth with dogs shall rise with fleas.
—John Florio, 1578Be a good animal, true to your animal instincts.
—D.H. Lawrence, 1911Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.
—Book of Proverbs, c. 350 BCMen, my dear, are very queer animals—a mixture of horse nervousness, ass stubbornness, and camel malice.
—T. H. Huxley, 1895Man is the only animal for whom his own existence is a problem which he has to solve and from which he cannot escape.
—Erich Fromm, 1947