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35 Aphra Behn Quotes Worth Sharing

Famous As: Playwright
Born On: July 10, 1640
Died On: April 16, 1689
Born In: Canterbury, England
Died At Age: 48

Aphra Behn was a renaissance era 17th century English poet, novelist and playwright. Behn broke every cultural norm prevalent in society to be recognized as a literary role model for aspiring female authors in the years to come. She was the first female to make a living out of writing in a time when the number of active professional writers was negligible. There is an inadequacy of information on her personal life due to intentional obscurity. With the onset of the Exclusion Crisis under Charles II regime, she went on to write an epilogue and prologue. Thereafter, she concentrated largely on prose writing and translation. According to modern critics, her work in plays such as Oroonoko, Abdelazer, The Rover and The Feigned Courtesans paved the path of development of English novels. Behn will always be remembered as a prolific fiction and play writer whose work attracted controversies and scandals due frequent references of homoerotic and sexual themes. Aphra’s thoughts and saying emphasized on love, life, humanity, compassion, pleasures, sexuality and feminism. Delve into these quotes from this bold writer.

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That perfect tranquility of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library.

That perfect tranquility of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library.

Aphra Behn
There is no sinner like a young saint.

There is no sinner like a young saint.

Aphra Behn
That perfect tranquillity of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library.

That perfect tranquillity of life, which is nowhere to be found but in retreat, a faithful friend and a good library.

Aphra Behn
He that knew all that learning ever writ, Knew only this - that he knew nothing yet.

He that knew all that learning ever writ, Knew only this - that he knew nothing yet.

Aphra Behn
Nothing is more capable of troubling our reason, and consuming our health, than secret notions of jealousy in solitude.

Nothing is more capable of troubling our reason, and consuming our health, than secret notions of jealousy in solitude.

Aphra Behn
Faith, sir, we are here today, and gone tomorrow.

Faith, sir, we are here today, and gone tomorrow.

Aphra Behn
One hour of right-down love is worth an age of dully living on.

One hour of right-down love is worth an age of dully living on.

Aphra Behn
All I ask, is the privilege for my masculine part the poet in me.... If I must not, because of my sex, have this freedom... I lay down my quill and you shall hear no more of me.

All I ask, is the privilege for my masculine part the poet in me.... If I must not, because of my sex, have this freedom... I lay down my quill and you shall hear no more of me.

Aphra Behn
I think a Play the best divertisement that wise men have: but I do also think them nothing so who do discourse so formallie about the rules of it, as if 'twere the grand affair of humane life.

I think a Play the best divertisement that wise men have: but I do also think them nothing so who do discourse so formallie about the rules of it, as if 'twere the grand affair of humane life.

Aphra Behn
Time lessens all extremes and reduces 'em to mediums and unconcern ...

Time lessens all extremes and reduces 'em to mediums and unconcern ...

Aphra Behn
Of all that writ, he was the wisest bard, who spoke this mighty truth- He that knew all that ever learning writ, Knew only this-that he knew nothing yet.

Of all that writ, he was the wisest bard, who spoke this mighty truth- He that knew all that ever learning writ, Knew only this-that he knew nothing yet.

Aphra Behn
Oh, what a dear ravishing thing is the beginning of an Amour!

Oh, what a dear ravishing thing is the beginning of an Amour!

Aphra Behn
Kings that made laws, first broke 'em ...

Kings that made laws, first broke 'em ...

Aphra Behn
A brave world, sir, full of religion, knavery, and change: we shall shortly see better days.

A brave world, sir, full of religion, knavery, and change: we shall shortly see better days.

Aphra Behn
God makes all things good; Man meddles with 'em and they become evil.

God makes all things good; Man meddles with 'em and they become evil.

Aphra Behn
Patience is a flatterer, sir, and an ass, sir.

Patience is a flatterer, sir, and an ass, sir.

Aphra Behn
Who is't that to woman's beauty would submit,
And yet refuse the fetters of their wit?

Who is't that to woman's beauty would submit, And yet refuse the fetters of their wit?

Aphra Behn
Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.

Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.

Aphra Behn
Variety is the soul of pleasure.

Variety is the soul of pleasure.

Aphra Behn
Come away; poverty's catching.

Come away; poverty's catching.

Aphra Behn
A poet is a painter in his way, he draws to the life, but in another kind; we draw the nobler part, the soul and the mind; the pictures of the pen shall outlast those of the pencil, and even worlds themselves.

A poet is a painter in his way, he draws to the life, but in another kind; we draw the nobler part, the soul and the mind; the pictures of the pen shall outlast those of the pencil, and even worlds themselves.

Aphra Behn
Love, like reputation, once fled, never returns more.

Love, like reputation, once fled, never returns more.

Aphra Behn
Each moment of a happy love's hour is worth an age of dull and common life.

Each moment of a happy love's hour is worth an age of dull and common life.

Aphra Behn
Where there is no novelty, there can be no curiosity.

Where there is no novelty, there can be no curiosity.

Aphra Behn
But time lessens all extremes, & reduces them to mediums & unconcern.

But time lessens all extremes, & reduces them to mediums & unconcern.

Aphra Behn
As love is the most noble and divine passion of the soul, so is it that to which we may justly attribute all the real satisfactions of life, and without it, man is unfinished, and unhappy.

As love is the most noble and divine passion of the soul, so is it that to which we may justly attribute all the real satisfactions of life, and without it, man is unfinished, and unhappy.

Aphra Behn
Possessed with a thousand thoughts of past joys

Possessed with a thousand thoughts of past joys

Aphra Behn
Here lies a Proof that Wit can never be
Defence enough against Mortality

Here lies a Proof that Wit can never be Defence enough against Mortality

Aphra Behn
No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

Aphra Behn
Willmore: There is no sinner like a young saint.

Willmore: There is no sinner like a young saint.

Aphra Behn