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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: Romantic Age
[1787]
Robert Burns: Or, if man's superior might
"Dare invade your native right, "On the lofty ether borne, "Man with all his powers you scorn; "Swiftly seek, on clanging wings, "Other lakes and other springs; "And the foe you cannot brave,"Scorn at least to be his slave.
[1789] Jeremy Bentham: The day has been, I grieve to say in many places it is not yet past, in which the greater part of the species, under the denomination of slaves, have been treated by the law exactly upon the same footing as, in England for example, the inferior races of animals are still. The day may come, when the rest of the animal creation may acquire those rights which never could have been withholden from them but by the hand of tyranny. The French have already discovered that the blackness of the skin is no reason why a human being should be abandoned without redress to the caprice of a tormentor. It may come one day to be recognized, that the number of the legs, the villosity of the skin, or the termination of the os sacrum, are reasons equally insufficient for abandoning a sensitive being to the same fate. What else is it that should trace the insuperable line? Is it the faculty of reason, or, perhaps, the faculty of discourse? But a full-grown horse or dog is beyond comparison a more rational, as well as a more conversable animal, than an infant of a day, or a week, or even a month, old. But suppose the case were otherwise, what would it avail? the question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?—
[1791] John Oswwald: Sovereign despot of the world, lord of the life and death of every creature,—man, with the slaves of his tyranny, disclaims the ties of kindred. Howe'er attuned to the feelings of the human heart, their affections are the mere result of mechanic impulse; howe'er they may verge on human wisdom, their actions have only the semblance of sagacity: enlightened by the ray of reason, man is immensely removed from animals who have only instinct for their guide, and born to mortality, he scorns with the brutes that perish, a social bond to acknowledge. Such are the unfeeling dogmas, which, early instilled into the mind, induce a callous insensibility, foreign to the native texture of the heart; such the cruel speculations which prepare us for the practice of that remorseless tyranny, and which palliate the foul oppression that, over inferior but fellow-creatures we delight to exercise.
[1796] John Lawrence: As an analogy ready at hand, the permission given to the trade in human slaves, makes an obvious breach in the principle of justice, and positively authorizes universal rapine. To plead either law or custom, in such cases, is futile; neither of them being obligatory, when in opposition to the principle of justice. The perpetrators of injustice and cruelty against men, are no longer safe, than they can hold the sword fast in their own hands; the instant it falls (and they hold it by a most precarious tenure) the point turns towards themselves, and they meet their reward—but are we base enough to heap acts of cruelty upon brutes, because we know they are helpless, and cannot retaliate?
[1800] Rev. John Bidlake: Blest Sabbath, hail ! thou day of earthly peace, "That bid'st awhile the poor man's labour cease! "All hail, king harginger of heav'nly rest! "Thou Wisdom's friends ! thou balm of Sorrow's breast! "That giv'st the unpitied brute, by labour waste, "A periodic pause of pain to taste! "Then the meek ox, releas'd from patient toil, "May press the turf, or crop the flow'ry soil; "And the lean ass, with blows and sorrow worn, "May saunt'ring pace the green-hedg'd lane forlorn; "Though still with slavery's badge his loaded feet "Drag galling chains along his rude retreat: "The thistle's scanty leaf, the briery wastes, "Are all the luxury his respite tastes. "Contented as thou crop'st the casual weeds," For man's ingratitude my bosom bleeds.
[1801] Rev. Legh Richmond: Whilst you are pleading the rights of the animal creation, you will also promote the best interests of Christianity in the hearts of your children…remind them that 'in respect of creation, the beasts of the field are our fellows;' consequently, their sufferings have a natural and just claim to fellow feeling on our part. If…you effectually convince them that the brute animals were born to be the humble dependants on our goodness, not the devoted slaves of our tyranny…you will have fulfilled a most blessed part of your children's education.
[1802] Jeremy Bentham: A time will come when humanity will spread its mantle over everything that breathes. The lot of slaves has begun to excite pity; we shall end by softening the lot of the animals which labour for us and supply our wants.
[1830] William Hamilton Drummond: Ask them seriously and affectionately how they would like to share the lot of those creatures whose slavery is embittered by the rigid and capricious treatment of their keepers. Make them ashamed of injuring defenceless animals which have no mode of appealing to justice, or seeking redress for their wrongs. [1830] K., Mirror of Literature: The enemy of slavery should protect every animal subject to the pain of its infliction.
[1831]
James Lawson Drummond: The true evil is, that humanity is neglected to a most culpable degree. It is a virtue that is inculcated neither on youth, nor age, nor sect, nor party; and, from custom, we every day see, without emotion, acts of cruelty which, only that we have been long used to them, would excite our deepest indignation. Look, for example, at the treatment of the horse. That poor slave, so useful to man, is subjected to hardship, pain, and suffering, to a degree that would seem utterly incredible, were we not, all our lives, accustomed to the sight.
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Slavery of Animals