It’s funny how inspiring and uplifting animal quotes can be for us, isn’t it?

With my volunteer work in so many different animal shelters and sanctuaries in the past 25 years and with my non-profit SARA (Shelter Animal Reiki Association), I have honestly worked with too many animals who have seen the worst that humanity has to offer them. But it never ceases to amaze me when an animal who has been left at a shelter (or abused or neglected) chooses to let go of what they’ve experienced and open their heart to humans again.

Animals are simply magical creatures and they can teach us more than we can ever teach them. No wonder there are so many wonderful animal quotes out there!

In 2015, I had the chance to travel Australia for the first time. I spent my time watching native wildlife, helping shelter cats by sharing Animal Reiki with them, and teaching Animal Reiki classes to locals. I also had a chance to pet a super-soft koala bear for the first time while visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park in Sydney, Australia. That trip Down Under really allowed me the opportunity to slow down a little and reflect on the vital role animals have played in my career and life. It was so profound in so many ways and it brought home to me how inspirational and motivating it has been to have the opportunity to work with so many different species of animals in my career. I’m so grateful for all of the lessons they’ve taught me through the years, and all of the heartful connections I’ve been able to make. Thinking about that trip always reminds me of my favorite, most inspiring quotes about animals.

I’ve always loved the sentiments behind these 12 quotes about animals. 😊

“The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat.” –Jules Renard

Jules Renard

“Cats are angels with fur.”

Sark

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

Anatole France

“Animals are my friends…and I don’t eat my friends.”

George Bernard Shaw

“Animals are such agreeable friends—they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

George Eliot

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

Martin Buber

“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.”

Charles de Gaulle

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.”

Josh Billings

“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.”

Milan Kundera

“I call my horses ‘divine mirrors’—they reflect back the emotions you put in. If you put in love and respect and kindness and curiosity, the horse will return that.”

Allan Hamilton

“One small cat changes coming home to an empty house to coming home.”

Pam Brown

“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.”

Hippolyte Taine

There are just so many inspirational animal quotes to choose from that I decided to add more than the 12 I originally planned to share. Here are some other animal quotes that will make you smile, inspire you, and motivate you to love animals even more than you already do:

• If we’re going to have animals around we all have to be concerned about them and take care of them. ~ Bob Ross
• People don’t get the big picture—animals matter, people matter, and animals in the lives of people matter. ~Noel Fitzpatrick
• The animal world shows us the potential we can unfold. But to learn from them, we must first learn to speak with them. ~ Ted Andrews
• Never, never be afraid to do what’s right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

If these animal quotes brought some happiness to your heart and if you would like to learn how to be closer to your pets or other animals…

We would love you to join our Let Animals Lead® Community and teach you how to share Reiki with animals. Our community is all over the world and is made up of dedicated animal lovers, animal energy workers, and Animal Reiki practitioners who are focused on making this world a better, kinder place for animals.