Aphra Behn Quotes

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.

'Twas but a dream, yet by my heart I knew, Which still was panting, part of it was true: Oh how I strove the rest to have believed; Ashamed and angry to be undeceived!

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

Kings that made laws, first broke 'em.

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

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

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

Affectation hath always had a greater share both in the action and discourse of men than truth and judgment have.

Come away; poverty's catching.

... he that will live in this World, must be endu'd with the three rare Qualities of Dissimulation, Equivocation, and mental Reservation.

Money speaks sense in a language all nations understand.

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

Love ceases to be a pleasure, when it ceases to be a secret.

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

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.

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

Jealousy, the old worm that bites.

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.

Tis Love alone can make our Fetters please.

You may make love in dancing as well as sitting.

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

No friend to Love like a long voyage at sea.

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.

There is no sinner like a young saint.

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

Variety is the soul of pleasure.

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

Love's a thin Diet, nor will keep out Cold.

I value fame as much as if I had been born a Hero.

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

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

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.

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

Sure, I rose the wrong way today, I have had such damn'd ill luck every way.