I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?”

I said to myself, “Let’s go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!” But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke. What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it? With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth.

I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”

So I said, “Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?”

I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?

“Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?”

I said of laughter, “It is madness,” and of pleasure, “What does it accomplish?”