The best Black Beauty quotes

I felt from the first that what he wanted was to wear all the spirit out of me, and just make me into a quiet, humble, obedient piece of horseflesh. `Horseflesh'! Yes, that is all that he thought about," and Ginger stamped her foot as if the very thought of him made her angry.

We have no right to distress any of God’s creatures without a very good reason; we call them dumb animals, and so they are, for they cannot tell us how they feel, but they do not suffer less because they have no words.

If we could act a little more according to common sense, and a good deal less according to fashion, we should find many things work easier.

Master said, God had given men reason, by which they could find out things for themselves; but he had given animals knowledge which did not depend on reason, and which was much more prompt and perfect in its way, and by which they had often saved the lives of men.

Now I say that with cruelty and oppression it is everybody’s business to interfere when they see it.

If a thing is right it can be done, and if it is wrong it can be done without; and a good man will find a way.

We horses must take things as they come, and always be content and willing so long as we are kindly used.

To my mind, fashion is one of the wickedest things in the world.

To my dear and honored Mother, whose life, no less than her pen, has been devoted to the welfare of others, this little book is affectionately dedicated.

While I was young I lived upon my mother’s milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by her side, and at night I lay down close by her. When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove.

We shall all have to be judged according to our works, whether they be towards man or towards beast.

If they strain me up tight, why, let 'em look out! I can't bear it, and I won't.

I have heard men say that seeing is believing; but I should say that feeling is believing; for much as I had seen before, I never knew till now the utter misery of a cab-horse’s life.

If a thing is right it can be done, and if it is wrong it can be done without; and a good man will find a way.

I hope you will grow up gentle and good, and never learn bad ways; do your work with a good will, lift your feet up well when you trot, and never bite or kick even in play.

I never yet could make out why men are so fond of this sport ... but we are only horses, and don't know.

After this we continued our journey, and as they got out of the cab our friend was saying, "My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in the guilt."

It is good people who make good places.

Boys, you see, think a horse or pony is like a steam engine or a thrashing machine.

Give me the handling of a horse for twenty minutes, and I'll tell you what sort of a groom he has had.

How can you talk about only ignorance? Don't you know that it is the worst thing in the world, next to wickedness?