Excellence is never granted to man, but as the reward of labor. It
argues, indeed, no small strength of mind to persevere in the habits
of industry, without the pleasure of perceiving those advantages
which, like the hands of a clock, whilst they make hourly approaches
to their point, yet proceed so slowly as to escape observation.
-- Sir Joshua Reynolds
Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock
strike hey die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to
instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and
unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one
starts lawsuits over their wills....
