Faithful Companions

Day 245

“Lots of people talk to animals….Not very many listen, though….That’s the problem.”

– Benjamin Hoff

I’ve had a collection of animal quotes about how animals enrich our lives, teach us, and lead the way to being our best selves sitting in my draft folder since I wrote the post about how much we can learn from animals over two months ago. I was amazed at how many quotes there were from the world’s spiritual, political and thought leaders, and thought I’d share them with you at some point.

It’s the beginning of the last long weekend of summer, and a nice way to kick it off. Inspired by Esther – I guess “The Esther Effect” is far reaching, I decided to share those quotes today, and many more; as well as some spectacular photographs of animals in their natural habitats, doing what they do best – spreading joy and love, and helping each other. I also came across one very touching video of animals helping humans. Take a look:

“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals…In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth.” – Henry Beston

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber

“Our task must be to free ourselves…by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“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.” – William Hazlitt

“Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.” – His Holiness The Dalai Lama

“Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to.” – Alfred A. Montapert

“Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way.” – John Muir

“Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.” – William Shakespeare

“The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” – Leonardo da Vinci

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber

“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.” – Samuel Butler

“I care not for a man’s religion whose dog and cat are not the better for it.” – Abraham Lincoln

“Animals are such agreeable friends; they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” – George Elliot

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” – Chinese Proverb

“There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before.” – Robert Lynd

“All of the animals except for man know that the principle business of life is to enjoy it.” – Samuel Butler

“Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!” – Theophile Gautier

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” – Immanuel Kant

“Animals are like little angels sent to earth to teach us how to love. They don’t get angry or play silly games. They are always there for us.” – Whitney Mandel

“Animals are not property or “things” but rather living organisms, subjects of a life, who are worthy of our compassion, respect, friendship, and support.” – Marc Bekoff

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

“I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” – Edgar Allan Poe

“Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness.” – Catholic Church

“The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men.” – Alice Walker

“I think having an animal in your life makes you a better human.” – Rachel Ray

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.” – John Grogan

“I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.” – Ellen Degeneres

Thank you, thank you, thank you!