Anatole France  was born in France in 1844. He was a poet, journalist and novelist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1921. His best selling books were ironic and skeptical. Later on in life France became interested in social questions and considered himself a socialist.

It is obvious, based on his quote, that French loved animals and believed they contributed to our lives in a very special way. Research has since proven that having a pet can have many positive benefits. Three experiments were completed by researchers from the Universities of Miami and St. Louis to understand the benefits of pets for the general population. They found that “Pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful, and tended to be less preoccupied than non-owners.”

Animal experts will tell you that spending some time each day with animals will relax you, reduce your blood pressure and may even improve your human relationships. A study in 1997 by the University of Michigan School of Nursing found that even watching animals in nature can teach us patience and help restore mental energy. They also found that taking care of an animal can teach us responsibility, and promote feelings of trust, openness and companionship.

Sources:

“Anatole France – Biographical”. Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2014. Web. 10 Dec 2015. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1921/france-bio.html>

McConnell, A. R., Brown, C. M., Shoda, T. M., Stayton, L. E., & Martin, C. E. (2011). Friends with benefits: On the positive consequences of pet ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(6), 1239-1252.