--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I fly from pleasure,\" said the prince…" description: "\"I fly from pleasure,\" said the prince, \"because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png" --- # I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure… ![“I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others.” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png) > “I fly from pleasure," said the prince, "because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker finds pleasure empty, feels loneliness and misery, and avoids burdening others with his presence. **In simple terms:** Pleasure no longer satisfies; loneliness and misery remain. Key Takeaway Recognize when pleasure fades and seek deeper fulfillment. Themes loneliness misery pleasure self‑awareness Mood melancholic thoughtful Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - personal reflection - social interaction - mental health - relationship counseling Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - What truly fulfills you beyond pleasure? - How can you support others without compromising your well‑being? A Different Perspective Pleasure alone cannot resolve inner emptiness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ceased Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceased-lonely-2066240/) [Clouds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) [Feeling lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-lonely/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [I am lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-am-lonely/) [Loneliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loneliness/) [Lonely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely/) [Lonely Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lonely-miserable-1493546/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Miserable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable/) [Miserable Unwilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-unwilling-2922720/) [Please](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/please/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Pleasure Ceased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure-ceased-2922718/) [Prince Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prince-pleasure-2922719/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Unwilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unwilling/) ## Related quotes > [You have a choice in life. Would you rather be lonely or miserable? I would rather be lonely. A lot of people are miserable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/you-have-a-choice-in-life-would-you-rather-be-lonely-or-miserable-i/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“There was something odd for him about not feeling lonely. The very fact that he had ceased to be lonely caused him to fear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/there-was-something-odd-for-him-about-not-feeling-lonely-the-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [“By marrying her, Tony Takitani brought the lonely period of his life to an end. When he awoke in the morning, the first thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/by-marrying-her-tony-takitani-brought-the-lonely-period-of-his-life/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Lately, I was too focused on being lonely and miserable. But now, I suddenly remember how awesome it is being single and independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lately-i-was-too-focused-on-being-lonely-and-miserable-but-now-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I am lonely for boys it’s their bodies I miss. I study their hands lifting the cigarettes in the darkness of the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/when-i-am-lonely-for-boys-it-s-their-bodies-i-miss-i-study-their/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frank/the-best-remedy-for-those-who-are-afraid-lonely-or-unhappy-is-to-go-2/) [Anne Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frank/) > [I am lonely, yet not everybody will do. I don't know why, some people fill the gaps and others emphasize my loneliness. In reality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-am-lonely-yet-not-everybody-will-do-i-don-t-know-why-some-people-2/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [There is pleasure in the pathless woods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/there-is-pleasure-in-the-pathless-woods/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [I’m here. I love you. I don’t care if you need to stay up crying all night long, I will stay with you. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-m-here-i-love-you-i-don-t-care-if-you-need-to-stay-up-crying-all-3/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Just because I am alone, does not mean I am lonely. I am not you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsugumi-ohba/just-because-i-am-alone-does-not-mean-i-am-lonely-i-am-not-you/) [Tsugumi Ohba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsugumi-ohba/) > [If I admire my arms, my face, my shoulders, flanks, buttocks against the yellow drawn shades,-- Who shall say I am not the happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/if-i-admire-my-arms-my-face-my-shoulders-flanks-buttocks-against-the/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [I am lonely, sometimes, but I dare say it's good for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/i-am-lonely-sometimes-but-i-dare-say-it-s-good-for-me/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [In deep confusion, in great despair, when I reach out for him, he is there. When I am lonely as I can be, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/in-deep-confusion-in-great-despair-when-i-reach-out-for-him-he-is/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [So I am lonely, but not alone, like everybody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/so-i-am-lonely-but-not-alone-like-everybody-else/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I'm not alone, but I am lonely without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-alone-but-i-am-lonely-without-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. Poverty is a great enemy to human happiness; it certainly destroys liberty, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/resolve-not-to-be-poor-whatever-you-have-spend-less-poverty-is-a/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The basis of all excellence is truth: he that professes love ought to feel its power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-basis-of-all-excellence-is-truth-he-that-professes-love-ought-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Words are daughters of earth but ideas are sons of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/words-are-daughters-of-earth-but-ideas-are-sons-of-heaven/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The composition of Shakespeare is a forest, in which oaks extend in the air, interspersed sometimes with weeds and brambles, and sometimes giving shelting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-composition-of-shakespeare-is-a-forest-in-which-oaks-extend-in/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“The cherubim were never intended as an object of worship, because they were only the appendices to another thing. But a thing is then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-cherubim-were-never-intended-as-an-object-of-worship-because-they/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Nobody has the right to put another under such a difficulty that he must either hurt the person by telling the truth or hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/nobody-has-the-right-to-put-another-under-such-a-difficulty-that-he/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [That kind of life is most happy which affords us most opportunities of gaining our own self-esteem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/that-kind-of-life-is-most-happy-which-affords-us-most-opportunities/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The time will come to every human being when it must be known how well he can bear to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-time-will-come-to-every-human-being-when-it-must-be-known-how/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) [Explore all 1,998 Samuel Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## More Clouds quotes > [How wonderful it would be, I thought, if only we could practice the teachings of the Buddha as he really taught them from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/how-wonderful-it-would-be-i-thought-if-only-we-could-practice-the/) [Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzogchen-ponlop-rinpoche/) > [It lies around us like a cloud- A world we do not see; Yet the sweet closing of an eye May bring us there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/it-lies-around-us-like-a-cloud-a-world-we-do-not-see-yet-the-sweet/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [No matter how strong the storm, how hard the rain and how vicious the wind there is always a gap in the clouds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-greenhalgh/no-matter-how-strong-the-storm-how-hard-the-rain-and-how-vicious-the/) [Ben Greenhalgh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-greenhalgh/) > [The sacred lamp of day Now dipt in Western clouds his parting day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-falconer/the-sacred-lamp-of-day-now-dipt-in-western-clouds-his-parting-day/) [William Falconer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-falconer/) > [Just as the setting sun turned the clouds to liquid gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/just-as-the-setting-sun-turned-the-clouds-to-liquid-gold/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [Above the clouds I lift my wing To hear the bells of Heaven ring; Some of their music, though my fights be wild, To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clarence-stedman/above-the-clouds-i-lift-my-wing-to-hear-the-bells-of-heaven-ring-some/) [Edmund Clarence Stedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clarence-stedman/) > [If you like I'll be furious flesh elemental, or- changing to tones that the sunset arouses- if you like- I'll be extraordinary gentle, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/if-you-like-i-ll-be-furious-flesh-elemental-or-changing-to-tones-that/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [Sometimes in life the clouds are too dark to see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-limn/sometimes-in-life-the-clouds-are-too-dark-to-see/) [Jeremy Limn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-limn/) > [May you eat an unfamiliar dessert in a strange land at least once every three years. May you wake up... and start dancing while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/may-you-eat-an-unfamiliar-dessert-in-a-strange-land-at-least-once/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [We're thrilled that our partnership with Adobe has now grown to span our three clouds - Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Dynamics 365 -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peggy-johnson/we-re-thrilled-that-our-partnership-with-adobe-has-now-grown-to-span/) [Peggy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peggy-johnson/) [Browse all 2,443 Clouds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clouds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I fly from pleasure,\" said the prince, \"because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am miserable, and am unwilling to cloud with my presence the happiness of others.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-because-pleasure-has-ceased-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clouds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-because-pleasure-has-ceased-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b84/samuel-johnson-50_clouds_i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-beca_1917168.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I fly from pleasure,\" said the prince, \"because pleasure has ceased to please; I am lonely because I am…” — Samuel Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I fly from pleasure,\" said the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-because-pleasure-has-ceased-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-fly-from-pleasure-said-the-prince-because-pleasure-has-ceased-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```