Black Beauty quotes

“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.”

— Spoken by a character · Part III

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.

— Jerry · Part III

“there is no religion without love, and people may talk as much as they like about their religion, but if it does not teach them to be good and kind to man and beast it is all a sham--all a sham, James, and it won't stand when things come to be turned inside out.”

— John · Part I

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.

— Spoken by a character · Part IV

No, no! you never had a good place where they were kind to you, and so you don't know, and I'm sorry for you; but I can tell you good places make good horses.

— Merrylegs · Part I

Now I say that with cruelty and oppression it is everybody's business to interfere when they see it; you did right, my boy.

— Spoken by a character · Part I

I am never afraid of what I know.

— Spoken by a character · Part II

I did once, but it's no use; men are strongest, and if they are cruel and have no feeling, there is nothing that we can do, but just bear it--bear it on and on to the end.

— Spoken by a character · Part III

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.

I hope you will fall into good hands; but a horse never knows who may buy him, or who may drive him; it is all a chance for us; but still I say, do your best wherever it is, and keep up your good name.

— Spoken by a character · Part I

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.

— Spoken by a character · Part I

You may depend upon it, horses were intended to have their heads free, as free as men's are; and 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; besides, you know as well as I that if a horse makes a false step, he has much less chance of recovering himself if his head and neck are fastened back.

— Spoken by a character · Part I

She told me the better I behaved the better I should be treated, and that it was wisest always to do my best to please my master; “but,” said she, “there are a great many kinds of men; there are good thoughtful men like our master, that any horse may be proud to serve; and there are bad, cruel men, who never ought to have a horse or dog to call their own.

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

— Spoken by a character · Part I

I can trust his word and I can trust his work; he is gentle and clever with the horses, and I would rather have them in charge with him than with half the young fellows I know of in laced hats and liveries; and whoever wants a character of James Howard,” said John, with a decided jerk of his head, “let them come to John Manly.

— John · Part I

“work and I are very good friends; I never was afraid of work yet.”

— John · Part I