Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn (née Aphra Johnson) (July 10 1640 – April 16 1689) was a prolific Restoration dramatist and writer of amatory fiction. She is believed to be the first English professional woman writer.

Quotes

 * No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.
 * The Rover, Part I, Act I, sc. ii (1677).


 * There's no sinner like a young saint.
 * The Rover, Part I, Act I, sc. ii.


 * Patience is a flatterer, sir, and an ass, sir.
 * The Feigned Courtesans, Act III, sc. i (1679).


 * Variety is the soul of pleasure.
 * The Rover, Part II, Act I (1681).


 * Come away; poverty's catching.
 * The Rover, Part II, Act I.


 * Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.
 * The Rover, Part II, Act III, sc. i.


 * One hour of right-down love is worth an age of dully living on.
 * The Rover, Part II, Act V.


 * A brave world, sir, full of religion, knavery, and change: we shall shortly see better days.
 * The Roundheads (1682).


 * Faith, sir, we are here today, and gone tomorrow.
 * The Lucky Chance, Act IV (1686).


 * Love ceases to be a pleasure when it ceases to be a secret.
 * The Lover's Watch, "Four o'Clock General Conversation" (1686).


 * Oh what a dear ravishing thing is the beginning of an Amour!
 * The Emperor of the Moon, Act I, sc. i (1687).


 * He that knew all that ever Learning writ, Knew only this - that he knew nothing yet.
 * The Emperor of the Moon, Act III, sc. iii.


 * Nothing is more capable of troubling our reason, and consuming our health, than secret notions of jealousy in solitude.
 * The History of Agnes de Castro, or the Force of Generous Love (1688).


 * …that perfect Tranquillity of Life, which is no where to be found, but in retreat, a faithful Friend and a good Library…
 * The Lucky Mistake (1689).


 * Each moment of the happy lover's hour is worth an age of dull and common life.
 * The Younger Brother, Act III, sc. ii (published posthumously 1696).

Quotes about Behn

 * She was employed by Charles II, in 1666, in a political negotiation at Antwerp, which she managed with much dexterity; but her intelligence (though well-founded) being disregarded, she renounced all state affairs, and amused herself some time with the gallantries of Antwerp; and, when she arrived at London, dedicated the rest of her life to pleasure and poetry.
 * John Nichols, A Select Collection of Poems (Vol. I): with Notes (1780).