Timeline of Quotes Against Slavery of Animals
Quotes Against Slavery of Animals in Historical Literature;
Analogies to Human Slavery, Animal Slavery-Servitude, Animal as Slaves
 Quotes-Slavery of Animals: Antiquity
[2nd c.] Plutarch¹—Neither was it ever seene that a lion became a slave unto a lion, or one horse unto another in regard of fortitude, like as one man to another, contenting himselfe and willingly embracing servitude as next cousin and a surname appropriate unto cowardise. And as for those beasts which men have surprised and caught by snares, traps, subtill fleights and devices of engins, such if they be come to their growth and perfect age, reject all food, refuse nourishment, yea, and endure thirst, to such extremitie, that they chose to die and seeke to procure their owne death, rather than to live in servitude.
[2nd c.] Plutarch²—To sell slaves in that sort, or to turne them out of doores when you have had the service of all their youth, & that they are growen olde, as you use brute beastes that have served whilest they may for age: me thinkes that must needes proceede of to severe and greedy a nature, that hath no longer regard or consideration of humanity, then whilest one is able to do another good. For we see, gentlenesse goeth further then justice. For nature teacheth us to use justice onely unto men, but gentlenesse sometimes is shewed unto brute beasts: and that commeth from the very fountaine and spring of all curtesie and humanity, which shoulde never dry up in any man living. For to say truely, to keepe cast horses spoiled in our service, and dogs also, not only when they are whelpes, but when they be old : be even tokens of love and kindnes.
[2nd c.] Plutarch³—And there is no reason, to use living and sensible things, as we would use an old shoo or a rag, to cast it out upon the dunghill when we have worn it, and can serve us no longer. For if it were for no respect else, but to use us alwaies to humanitie: we must ever shew our selves kind and gentle, even in such small points of pitie. And as for me, I could never find in my heart to sell my draught Oxe that had plowed my land a long time, because he could plough no longer for age: and much lesse my slave, to sell him for a litle money, out of the contrie where he had dwelt a long time, to plucke him from his olde trade of life wherewith he was best acquainted.
| 
Slavery of Animals