Inish Scull

I love this damn book:

The tragedy of man is not death or epidemic or lust or rage or fitful jealousy," he said loudly - his voice tended to rise while declaiming unpleasant facts.

"No sir, the tragedy of man is boredom, sir - boredom!" the Captain said. "A man can only do a given thing so many times with freshness and spirit - then, no matter what it is, it becomes like an office task. I enjoy cards and whoring, but even cards and whoring can grow boresome. You tup your wife a thousand times and that becomes an office task, too."

What a great set up to a character off to do a fool's errand to, in his words, "keep tasting the salt."