# III: The Wants of Him That Wants Nothing explained — The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia

> Chapter companion for The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson.

## What happens

Rasselas, frustrated by the monotony of the Happy Valley, rejects the counsel of his old instructor who insists he lacks nothing. The Prince explains that his unhappiness stems from having no wants, which leaves him without purpose or desire. When the sage suggests that witnessing the world's miseries would make him value his state, Rasselas seizes on this as a new desire—to see those miseries.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Search for Happiness

Rasselas's complaint that possessing everything leaves him unhappy highlights the elusive nature of true happiness.

### The Vanity of Human Wishes

The old man's belief that abundance should guarantee contentment is undercut by Rasselas's experience of tedium and longing.

### The Choice of Life

Rasselas's desire for something to pursue sets the stage for his eventual choice to leave the Happy Valley.

## Character check-ins

### Rasselas

Expresses his discontent and the paradox of wanting nothing, leading him to desire seeing the world's miseries.

### The Old Man

The old instructor attempts to counsel Rasselas but is surprised by the Prince's novel affliction.

## Key lines

> I fly from pleasure, 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.

I avoid enjoyment because it no longer brings me joy; I am alone because I am unhappy, and I do not want to spoil others' happiness with my gloom.

_Rasselas explains his withdrawal from society to the old man._

> That I want nothing, or that I know not what I want, is the cause of my complaint: if I had any known want, I should have a certain wish; that wish would excite endeavour, and I should not then repine to see the sun move so slowly towards the western mountains.

The reason for my unhappiness is that I lack nothing—or don't know what I lack. If I had a clear need, I would have a definite desire, and that desire would motivate action, so I wouldn't complain about the slow passage of time.

_Rasselas articulates the paradox of his condition: having everything leaves him without purpose._

> Now, you have given me something to desire. I shall long to see the miseries of the world, since the sight of them is necessary to happiness.

Now you have given me a new wish: I will yearn to witness the world's sufferings, because seeing them is required for me to be happy.

_Rasselas seizes on the old man's remark as a reason to leave the Happy Valley._

## Links

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