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Thomas Tryon

1682 | Healths Grand Preservative

It is not said, That the Lord made all Creatures for Man to Eat, as I have heard many affirm, but he made them for his own Glory and eteranal Honour, and for the manifestation of his Wonders. (Thomas Tryon, Healths Grand Preservative [1682], "Of Flesh"

'Tis true, most Men believe that evil Company corrupts manners, and will acknowledge that some sorts of Imployments do by degrees dispose people to Inhumanity, Violence and Cruelty; but if you tell them there is the same possibility and greater in Meats, they shall Laugh at it as a ridiculous Dream, though in truth it is a most certain Truth, and daily experience (if we would but hear her Voice) bears witness unto it. (Thomas Tryon, Healths Grand Preservative [1682], "Of Flesh")

It was a shame in former Ages for a Man to be seen to buy Flesh, or to have carried it openly in the Streets of Cities, but now the best Citizens count it the contrary, and make nothing to go openly to the Flesh-markets in their Plush Coats, and Load a Porter two or three times a Week, with the Spoils of their Slaughtered Fellow-Creatures. (Thomas Tryon, Healths Grand Preservative [1682], "Of Flesh")


1684 | The Country-Mans Companion

But tell us, O Men ! we pray you tell us what injuries have we committed to forfeit? What Law have we broken, or what Cause given you, whereby you can pretend a Right to invade and violate our part, and natural Rights, and to assault and destroy us, as if we were the Agressors, and no better than Thieves, Robbers and Murtherers, fit to be extirpated out of the Creation? (Thomas Tryon, The County-Mans Companion [1684], "The Complaints of the Birds and Fowls of Heaven")

Leave off then, O Man ! for shame leave off they Pride, and thy vain Glory, and boast no more of thy Knowledge and Dominion, and Authority; for in truth thou art poor, and blind, and weak, and helpless, and miserably ignorant ; sink down therefore into Humility, and cease from Cruelty, first against those of thine own kind, and then thou mayst come to see and abhor the Error of oppressing thy Inferiors; for this is the way to retreive thine Honour and Dignity, to bring back the Golden Age, and that Innocent Estate, which by oppression, cruelty and violence thou hast lost. (Thomas Tryon, The County-Mans Companion [1684], "The Complaints of the Birds and Fowls of Heaven")


1688 | Monthly Observations for Preserving of Health

Remember that all Beasts are not only endued with sences equal with Man, but also with all kinds of Passons as Love, Hate, Wrath, and the like, which their Flesh and Blood is not freed from, for in the Blood consists the high Life of every Creature, therfore the Illuminated Prophet Moses Commanded that it should not be eaten, because the more noble human Nature should not pertake, nor be infected with the Beastiality for Killing and Eating the Flesh and Blood of Beasts. (Thomas Tryon, Monthly Observations for the Preserving of Health [1688], "Of Moyst Airs")


1691 | Pythagoras; His Mystick Philosophy Reviv'd

Let us therefore remove all Impediments possible, and wholy apply our selves to Contemplation, and innocency of Life; that is, doing unto the whole Creation, as we would be done unto. (Thomas Tryon, Pythagoras; His Mystick Philosophy Reviv'd [1691], "Dreams")

Let none of your food be attended with the dying Groans of of the innocent Creatures. (Thomas Tryon, Pythagoras; His Mystick Philosophy Reviv'd [1691], "Dreams")

Eshew things derived from violence, and therefore be considerate in eating of…any thing, not procurable but by the death of some of our fellow Creatures. (Thomas Tryon, Pythagoras; His Mystick Philosophy Reviv'd [1691], "Dreams")








Links to the Primary Source
document the authenticity of quotations while providing more in-depth insight into the ideologies of humanity against cruelty to animals and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.

1682 | Thomas Tryon, "Of Flesh," in Healths Grand Preservative (London, 1682; Online at Animal Rights History, 2003).

1684 | Thomas Tryon, "The Complaints of the Birds and Fowls of Heaven," chap. 5 in The County-Mans Companion (London, 1684; Online at Animal Rights History, 2003).

1688 | Thomas Tryon, "Of Moyst Airs," Monthly Observations for the Preserving of Health (London, 1688; Online at Animal Rights History, 2003).

1691 | Thomas Tryon, "Procure…Understand…Retain [Dreams]" in Pythagoras; His Mystick Philosophy Reviv'd (London, 1691; Online at Animal Rights History, 2003).

Quotes briefly introduce animal rights activists, animal welfare advocates and authors; the history of animal rights, animal welfare and animal protection; and the literature of the humane movement against cruelty to animals.

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[1609-1676] Matthew Hale
[1630-1694] John Tillotson
[1633-1703] Samuel Pepys
[1634-1703] Thomas Tryon
[1632-1704] John Locke
[1620-1706] John Evelyn
[1672-1719] Joseph Addison
[1670-1733] Bernard Mandeville
[1677-1743] Louis Lemery
[1690-1743] Father Bougeant
[1688-1744] Alexander Pope
[1700-1748] James Thomson
[] Christopher Brown
[1657-1752] William Whitson
[1692-1752] Joseph Butler
[1697-1753] James Foster
[1682-1756] John Hildrop
[1705-1757] David Hartley
[1714-1758] James Hervey
[1714-1763] William Shenstone [1697-1764] William Hogarth
[1714-1774] James Burgh
[1712-1778] Rousseau
[1694-1778] Voltaire
[1736-1779] Humphrey Primatt
[1787] Country Village Rector
[1723-1780] William Blackstone [1704-1787] Soame Jenyns
[] William Trinder
[1748-1789] Thomas Day
[1703-1791] John Wesley
[1724-1804] William Gilpin
[1740-1804] Thomas Percival
[1743-1818] Patrick Brydone
[1767-1835] Wilhelm von Humboldt
[1764-1850] Samauel Bardsley

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