The Best Famous Quotes About Love for Animals
Love for animals is a powerful force that has inspired people of all ages and cultures. The deep connection we feel with our furry and feathered friends has led us to reflect and express feelings through words.
In this article, we’ve compiled some of the most famous quotes about love for animals, along with their respective authors. These quotes capture the essence of the tenderness, loyalty and compassion that animals arouse in our hearts.
On loving animals
The highest and strongest feeling of the human-animal bond is love. Therefore, the first phrases we share with you are expressions of it and its manifestation between people and animals.
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of the soul remains unawakened” – Anatole France
The renowned French writer, Anatole France, invites us to recognize the transforming power of animal love. This quote reminds us that only when we open our hearts to them do we experience a deeper connection with nature and ourselves.
“You can judge a man’s heart by his treatment of animals”- Immanuel Kant
The influential German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, also explored the connection between people’s ethics and their relationship with animals. Although this may be an exception to his categorical imperative (for what it implies), it allows us to understand that a fundamental aspect of human ethics relates to how we treat helpless beings.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that will love you more than it loves itself” – Josh Billings
Humorist and writer, Josh Billings, highlights the unconditional love dogs offer their owners. This phrase captures the loyalty and devotion that canines demonstrate, making them faithful and loving companions.
“Love for all living creatures is the noblest attribute of man” – Charles Darwin
The famous scientist, Charles Darwin, invites us to recognize love for all forms of life as an essential quality of humanity. This phrase highlights the importance of valuing and protecting the biological diversity of our planet. In this way, it recognizes the fundamental role that animals play in our ecosystem.
“Love of animals is the bridge that connects us to goodness and spirituality” – Sir David Attenborough
The famous naturalist and science popularizer, Sir David Attenborough, highlights the deep connection that exists between love of animals and our own spirituality. This phrase invites us to appreciate the beauty and importance of all forms of life on Earth.
“Love for animals uplifts the human spirit and teaches us the true essence of compassion” – Linda Bender
Author and veterinarian, Linda Bender, highlights how love for animals can transform our lives, awakening in us feelings of compassion and empathy for all forms of life in the world.
“Love for animals is the best representation of selfless love and unending loyalty” – Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Nigerian politician, Kayode Fayemi, emphasizes the altruistic and loyal nature of love for animals. This phrase invites us to recognize the value of loving and caring for animals without expecting anything in return, and teaches us valuable lessons about devotion and faithfulness.
On how loving animals makes us better
Loving animals gives us the possibility to improve as a human species. This is what several personalities believed and believe.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” – Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi, Indian spiritual leader and pacifist, urges us to reflect on our relationship with animals. This quote reminds us that our treatment of helpless beings reveals our true humanity and challenges us to be compassionate and responsible.
“Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character, and it may be safely asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good person” – Arthur Schopenhauer
The German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, emphasizes the close relationship between compassion for animals and our own morality. This phrase urges us to recognize that the ethical treatment of animals is a reflection of our inner goodness and challenges us to be compassionate humans in all aspects of life.
“If a man aspires to a right life, his first act of abstinence is from killing animals” – Leo Tolstoy
The renowned Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, makes us reflect on our relationship with animals and our ability to exercise compassion and respect. This quote highlights the importance of considering more ethical and sustainable choices in our food and lifestyle.
On friendship with animals
Friendship is a powerful connection born between humans and animals. If you are fortunate enough to share your life with a furry and faithful companion, you will surely feel identified with the phrases we share with you below.
“You can’t look at a sleeping dog without finally feeling the need to pet it” – Michael Ondaatje
Writer Michael Ondaatje, in The English Patient, highlights the irresistible tenderness that dogs evoke and how their mere presence can awaken the desire to show them affection and affection.
“An animal is a friend who will never judge you and who will always love you” – Martin Buber
The philosopher and writer, Martin Buber, highlights the unconditional nature of animal love in this sentence. Animals offer us their friendship and affection without prejudice or expectation, and teach us the value of mutual acceptance just as we are.
“Animals are such nice friends: they don’t ask questions, they don’t criticize” – George Eliot
The renowned writer, George Eliot, highlights the purity and honesty in the friendship that animals offer us. They accept people as they are, without judgment, and give us unconditional companionship.
You may be interested in Ancestral friendship between dogs and humans
Love and friendship phrases about animals to think about and apply
Research reported in the journal Frontiers in Psychology argues that friendship between humans and pets involves creating a social nexus that responds to emotional and adaptive functions, similar to friendship between people.
In fact, the authors identify the properties that are found in the human-pet relationship, so that it can be considered friendship. Some of them are the following:
- loyalty,
- companionship,
- trust,
- commitment,
- affection,
- sympathy,
- shared time.
The shared famous phrases express several of the aforementioned feelings of affinity. This sentiment, captured in words, inspires us to appreciate and respect the love that animals give us.
Likewise, it should lead us to reflect on our responsibility as human beings to care for and protect them. Its lasting impact reminds us of the importance of living in harmony with all the creatures of our planet.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- American Veterinary Medical Association. (s.f). Human-animal interaction and the human-animal bond. Consultado el 11 de julio de 2023. https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/human-animal-interaction-and-human-animal-bond
- Amiot, C. E., & Bastian, B. (2015). Toward a psychology of human–animal relations. Psychological Bulletin, 141(1), 6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25365760/
- Borgi, M., & Cirulli, F. (2016). Pet face: Mechanisms underlying human-animal relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 298. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00298/full
- Díaz Videla, M. (2020). Vínculo humano-animal ¿Qué clase de amor es ese?. Calidad De Vida Y Salud, 13(Especial), 2-32. http://revistacdvs.uflo.edu.ar/index.php/CdVUFLO/article/view/278
- Paul, E. S. (2000). Love of pets and love of people. En A. L. Podberscek, E. S. Paul & J. A. Serpell (Eds), Companion animals and us: Exploring the relationships between people and pets (pp. 168-186). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.