46 Donkey Quotes: From Proverbs to Shrek on Hard Work and Humor

While there are a lot of negative beliefs surrounding donkeys, these animals are intelligent and have formed a lasting bond with humans for many years. Check out these donkey quotes that will leave you in stitches but, at the same time, teach you important life lessons.

Donkeys are widely known as resilient, hardworking, and sometimes stubborn animals. Despite their stubborn nature and their distinct laughter, these animals have been by our side for many tears, and their bond with humans is remarkable.

There are tons of donkey quotes that humorously highlight their patience, hard work, resourcefulness, resilience and stubbornness. Here are some donkey quotes that will make you laugh.

Idries Shah's quote: "A donkey eats a melon, it remains a donkey." | Source: Unsplash

Famous Donkey Quotes

"And just because a talking donkey tells you something doesn't mean it's true." — Matt Mikalatos

"A man who believes the word of a donkey in preference to my word does not deserve to be lent anything." — Idries Shah

"A donkey eats a melon, it remains a donkey." — Idries Shah

"A donkey appears to me like a horse translated into Dutch." — Georg C. Lichtenberg

"It's a sad donkey that runs out of carrots." — Anthony T. Hincks

Josh Stern's quote: "Never send a Man in to do a Donkey's job." | Source: Unsplash

"Have you ever seen a donkey smelling a beautiful rose? Donkeys aren't interested in roses; they like thorn bushes or watermelon rinds!" — Mehmet Murat Ildan

"Never send a Man in to do a Donkey's job." — Josh Stern

"The mouse is a fair treat but this one would talk the hind legs off a donkey." — C. S. Lewis

"Learning without wisdom is a load of books on a donkey's back." — Zora Neale Hurston

"The donkey heard the book gives wisdom and ate it." — 'The New Land', Ljupka Cvetanova

Mittt Romney's quote: "When it comes to pinning blame, pin the tail on the donkeys." | Source: Unsplash

"Keep a spirited Christian horse and a useful ethical donkey. But don't try to breed a mule." — "Between Noon & Three: Romance, Law & The Outrage Of Grace," Robert Farrar Capon

"When we die, our souls still live. If you are a gangster or a bastard or a crook, your soul inhabits a donkey or something terrible." — Mohamed Al-Fayed

"If Jesus were here today, he wouldn't be riding around on a donkey. He'd be taking a plane, he'd be using the media." — Joel Osteen

"When it comes to pinning blame, pin the tail on the donkeys." — Mitt Romney

"It's hard for the donkeys to win the race if they're going to carry the elephants on their backs." —Jim Hightower

Jean-Michel Rene Souche's quote: "You cannot turn a Donkey into a Thoroughbred." | Source: Unsplash

"I couldn't pedal a bike as a child, so I had a donkey instead. I loved the power and freedom it had." — Lee Pearson

"You cannot turn a Donkey into a Thoroughbred." — Jean-Michel Rene Souche

"Donkeys live a long time. None of you has ever seen a dead donkey." — George Orwell

"Heaven is the place where the donkey finally catches up with his carrot: hell is the eternity while he waits for it." — Russell Green

"Clearly, his next tat needed to be more along the lines of a donkey. ’Cuz he was acting like an ass." — 'Lover Avenged', J.R. Ward

Earnest Shackleton's quote: "I thought you'd rather have a live donkey than a dead lion." | Source: Unsplash

"There is no glory in outstripping donkeys." — Marcus Valerius Martialis

"I thought you'd rather have a live donkey than a dead lion." — Ernest Shackleton

Donkey Quotes On Working Hard

"The carrot and the stick are pervasive and persuasive motivators. But if you treat people like donkeys, they will perform like donkeys." — John Whitmore

"It is now your duty to hone that talent because a person who wastes his God-given talents is a donkey." — Khaled Hosseini

"Until the Donkey tried to clear The Fence, he thought himself a Deer." — Arthur Guiterman

Erich Honecker's quote: "Neither an ox nor a donkey is able to stop the progress of socialism." | Source: Unsplash

"It's hard for the donkeys to win the race if they're going to carry the elephants on their backs." — Jim Hightower

"If hard work is the lead to success, then donkeys are probably the king of the jungle." — Unknown*

"If somebody tells you you have ears like a donkey, pay no attention. But if two people tell you, buy yourself a saddle." — Sholom Aleichem

"Neither an ox nor a donkey is able to stop the progress of socialism." — Erich Honecker

"Dangling a carrot in front of a donkey—or anyone else for that matter—is not nice, and not fair, unless you eventually plan to give it up to them." — Vera Nazarian

Donkey's quote: "Parfait's may be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet!" | Source: Unsplash

"There are no bigger donkeys than these workers…. Look at our 'craftsmen'; Sad that world history should be made with such people." — Karl Marx

Donkey Quotes From 'Shrek'

"Don't mess wit' me. I'm the stair master. I've mastered the stairs. I wish I had a step right here; I could step here and here and here and step all over it." — Donkey

"You know what ELSE everybody likes? Parfaits! Have you ever met a person you say, Let's get some parfait, they say, Hell no, I don't like no parfait.? Parfaits are delicious!" — Donkey

"Parfait's may be the most delicious thing on the whole damn planet!" — Donkey

Donkey's quote: "Me! Me! Oh, Oh, Pick Me! Oh, I Know! I know! Me!" | Source: Unsplash

"Cause I'm all alone, there's no one here beside me, my problems have all gone, there's no one to deride me! But ya gotta have friends." — Donkey

"Wow, only a true friend would be that truly honest."— Donkey

"Now I'm a flyin', talkin' donkey! You might seen a housefly. Maybe even a superfly. But I bet you ain't never seen a donkey fly!" — Donkey

"It is lovely! Just beautiful. You know, you are quite a decorator. It's amazing what you've done with such a modest budget. I like that boulder. That is a nice boulder." — Donkey

"Me! Me! Oh, Oh, Pick Me! Oh, I Know! I know! Me!" — Donkey

Donkey's quote: "Don't die, Shrek. And if you see a long tunnel, stay away from the light!" | Source: Unsplash

"And then, one time, I ate some rotten berries. Man, there were some strong gases seepin' outta my butt that day!" — Donkey

"Don't die, Shrek. And if you see a long tunnel, stay away from the light!" — Donkey

"Well, I have a bit of a confession to make: Donkeys don't have layers. We wear our fear right there on our sleeves." — Donkey

"How in the name of Hans Christian Andersen am I supposed to parade around in these goofy boots?" — Donkey

Donkey's quote: "You're so wrapped up in layers, onion boy; you're afraid of your own feelings." | Source: Unsplash

"Please! I don't wanna go back there. You don't know what it's like to be considered a freak… well, maybe you do, but that's why we gotta stick together. You gotta let me stay." — Donkey

"You're so wrapped up in layers, onion boy; you're afraid of your own feelings." — Donkey.

"I'm a donkey on the edge!" — Donkey

Donkey quotes from "Shrek" have resonated with fans since the movie first premiered in 2001. The film, featuring Eddie Murphy as the voice of Donkey and Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona, enjoyed immense success and led to several beloved sequels. Check out these 55 "Shrek" Quotes That True Fans Will Never Forget.