Humanity Against Cruelty to Animals in Historical Literature, Timeline of Animal Rights History

Animal Rights History »» Francis Quarles

1640 | Enchiridion

Death

The Birds of the air die to sustain thee; the Beasts of the field die to nourish thee; the Fishes of the Sea die to feed thee. Our stomacks are their common Sepulcher. Good God ! with how many deaths are our poor lives patch'd up! How full of death is the miserable life of momentary man! (Francis Quarles, Enchiridion, "Death")

Mercy

TAke no pleasure in the death of a creature; if it be harmless or useless, destroy it not: if useless or harmful destroy it mercifully: He that mercifully made his Creatures for thy sake, expects thy mercy upon them for his sake. Mercy turns her back to the unmerciful. (Francis Quarles, Enchiridion, "Mercy")

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 as well as additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and the protection of animals.

Francis Quarles, "Death" and Mercy in Enchiridion [First Edition: London, 1640] (London, 1681; Digitized by Google, 2006).

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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