70+ Pets in Art Quotes: Furry Muses Through History

Did you know that the oldest known painting of a pet dog dates back to 3500 BCE? From ancient Egyptian tomb paintings to the Renaissance portraits, pets have been constant companions in art throughout human history. These furry, feathered, and scaled companions have served as muses for countless artists, often symbolizing loyalty, comfort, and the special bond between humans and animals. Their existence in artwork provides the enunciations of charm and relatability, while at the same time providing insight into what social and cultural values were during any single era. In celebration of the ever-enduring influence of pets in art, here are 80 quotes by artists, art historians, and cultural figures that identify the very essence of our animal companions in the world of creative expression. The quotes below range through centuries and cultures, giving a real variety to how pets have inspired and enriched the art world.

1. “If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience.” – Woodrow Wilson
2. “I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.” – Jean Cocteau
3. “A house is not a home without a pet.” – Anonymous
4. “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.” – Milan Kundera
5. “The purity of a person’s heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals.” – Anonymous

These opening quotes set the tone for the profound impact pets have had on human lives and, by extension, on art. They highlight the emotional connection between humans and animals that artists often strive to capture.

6. “If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” – Roger Caras
7. “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” – Edgar Allan Poe
8. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles de Gaulle
9. “What greater gift than the love of a cat?” – Charles Dickens
10. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

These quotes from notable figures in literature and politics underscore the emotional depth that pets bring to our lives, a depth that artists often seek to capture in their work.

11. “Pets are humanizing. They remind us we have an obligation and responsibility to preserve and nurture and care for all life.” – James Cromwell
12. “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” – Josh Billings
13. “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud
14. “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi
15. “No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.” – Louis Sabin

These quotes reflect on how pets enrich our lives and our art, reminding us of our connection to the natural world and our capacity for empathy.

16. “I have felt cats rubbing their faces against mine and touching my cheek with claws carefully sheathed. These things, to me, are expressions of love.” – James Herriot
17. “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras
18. “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” – Albert Schweitzer
19. “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.” – Mark Twain
20. “An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” – Martin Buber

These quotes highlight the deep emotional connections we form with our pets, connections that artists throughout history have sought to capture and express in their work.

21. “The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind.” – Theodorus Gaza
22. “A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” – Ernest Hemingway
23. “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” – Andy Rooney
24. “There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.” – Ben Williams
25. “When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade without further introduction.” – Mark Twain

These quotes reflect on the unique qualities of pets that make them such compelling subjects for artists, from their emotional honesty to their ability to comfort and connect with humans.

26. “The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.” – Johnny Depp
27. “Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” – James Herriot
28. “The dog is the god of frolic.” – Henry Ward Beecher
29. “I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” – Hippolyte Taine
30. “To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” – Milan Kundera

These quotes highlight the diverse ways in which pets have been perceived and represented in art and literature, from symbols of wisdom to embodiments of joy and peace.

31. “If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” – Mark Twain
32. “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” – Leonardo da Vinci
33. “Dogs are wise. They crawl away into a quiet corner and lick their wounds and do not rejoin the world until they are whole once more.” – Agatha Christie
34. “I think all cats are wild. They only act tame if there’s a saucer of milk in it for them.” – Douglas Adams
35. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles de Gaulle

These quotes from various artists and writers reflect on the complex personalities of pets, which have made them such rich subjects for artistic exploration throughout history.

36. “I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” – Doris Day
37. “A cat has beauty without vanity, strength without insolence, courage without ferocity, all the virtues of man without his vices.” – Lord Byron
38. “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.” – Mark Twain
39. “There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat.” – Tay Hohoff
40. “The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” – M.K. Clinton

These quotes highlight the emotional depth and unconditional love that pets bring to our lives, qualities that have inspired countless works of art throughout history.

41. “Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose.” – Garrison Keillor
42. “The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn’t pose. He isn’t aware of the camera.” – Patrick Demarchelier
43. “A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.” – Robert Wagner
44. “I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.” – Jean Cocteau
45. “The best thing about animals is that they don’t talk much.” – Thornton Wilder

These quotes reflect on the unique qualities of pets that make them such compelling subjects for artists, from their natural grace to their ability to embody complex emotions.

46. “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and man.” – Mark Twain
47. “I have lived with several Zen masters — all of them cats.” – Eckhart Tolle
48. “The dog is the god of frolic.” – Henry Ward Beecher
49. “A house is not a home without a pet.” – Anonymous
50. “There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog.” – Konrad Lorenz

These quotes highlight the loyalty, wisdom, and joy that pets bring to our lives, qualities that have made them enduring subjects in art throughout history.

51. “The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.” – Samuel Butler
52. “I love cats because I love my home and after a while they become its visible soul.” – Jean Cocteau
53. “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.” – Mark Twain
54. “Cats are connoisseurs of comfort.” – James Herriot
55. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles de Gaulle

These quotes reflect on the unique personalities and qualities of pets that have made them such compelling subjects for artists throughout history.

56. “If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” – James Herriot
57. “I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” – Hippolyte Taine
58. “The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn’t pose. He isn’t aware of the camera.” – Patrick Demarchelier
59. “There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.” – Albert Schweitzer
60. “The average dog is a nicer person than the average person.” – Andy Rooney

These quotes highlight the wisdom, authenticity, and positive qualities that pets embody, making them ideal subjects for artistic representation.

61. “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France
62. “Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent.” – Milan Kundera
63. “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.” – Edgar Allan Poe
64. “The purity of a person’s heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals.” – Anonymous
65. “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” – Sigmund Freud

These quotes reflect on the profound emotional and spiritual connections we form with our pets, connections that have inspired artists for centuries.

66. “A dog will teach you unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad.” – Robert Wagner
67. “The smallest feline is a masterpiece.” – Leonardo da Vinci
68. “Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made.” – Roger Caras
69. “Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose.” – Garrison Keillor
70. “The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” – Charles de Gaulle

These quotes highlight the diverse ways in which pets have been perceived and represented in art and literature, from symbols of unconditional love to embodiments of nature’s mysteries.

71. “If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” – Roger Caras
72. “I have lived with several Zen masters — all of them cats.” – Eckhart Tolle
73. “The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man’s.” – Mark Twain
74. “There is no faith which has never yet been broken, except that of a truly faithful dog.” – Konrad Lorenz
75. “What greater gift than the love of a cat?” – Charles Dickens

These quotes reflect on the unique qualities of pets that have made them enduring subjects in art, from their loyalty and wisdom to their capacity for unconditional love.

76. “The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind.” – Theodorus Gaza
77. “A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not.” – Ernest Hemingway
78. “To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring – it was peace.” – Milan Kundera
79. “The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” – M.K. Clinton
80. “If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much.” – Mark Twain

These final quotes encapsulate the diverse ways in which pets have inspired artists and thinkers throughout history, from their emotional honesty to their ability to evoke a sense of paradise.

As we ponder these 80 quotes about pets in art, it goes without saying that our animal companions have played an integral part in shaping the creativity and expression of humankind. From ancient times to the modern day, artists have drawn on the loyalty, beauty, and unconditional love of our furry friends for endless inspiration.

These quotes bring forth not only the aesthetic appeal of pets in art but also the deep emotional and spiritual connections we create with them. They remind us of the power of art to capture the essence of these relationships, which reflect our very own humanity through the eyes of our animal companions.

Whether it be an artist in search of inspiration, a lover of art in general marveling at pets in art, or simply an owner being introspective about the bond he has with his animal companion, keep in mind the fine history of pets in art. Let this be the catalyst to regard your own furry friend with fresh eyes and even capture their essence onto paper. After all, as these quotes suggest, there may be no finer muse than the loyal, loving pet by your side.