Explore "The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia" by Samuel Johnson on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Rasselas rose next day, and resolved to begin his experiments upon life. "Youth," cried he, "is the time of gladness: I will join myself to the young men whose only business is to gratify their desires, and whose time is all spent in a succession of enjoyments."
To such societies he was readily admitted, but a few days brought him back weary and disgusted. Their mirth was without images, their laughter without motive; their pleasures were gross and sensual, in which the mind had no part; their conduct was at once wild and mean -- they laughed at order and at law, but the frown of power dejected and the eye of wisdom abashed them.