15 Famous Last Words That Will Make You Think About Living
To kick the bucket, to buy the farm, to sleep with the fishes — the living have many ways to describe how we die, but these famous last words by people who were dying shed light on how it actually feels. In their dying hour, some people are capable of great humor, of regret, love, and awareness. Here are 15 famous last words that will make you think about living.
1. Richard Feynman — “This dying is boring”
World-reknowned physicist Richard Feynman died at age 69 after losing an ongoing battle with cancer. Apparently, he was bored to death.
2. Sarah Bernhardt — “How slow my death agony is”
The Angelina Jolie of her era, French actor and stage beauty Sarah Bernhardt succumbed to death after kidney failure at age 78. Hopefully, her trip to wherever she was supposed to go was a quick one.
3. Thomas J. Grasso — “I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know about this!”
Convicted murderer Thomas J. Grasso’s last words were not full of remorse, but rather, an angry complaint for being ripped off on his final meal. But really? A 99-cent can of noodles is your last requested meal?
4. Louis B. Mayer – “It wasn’t worth it”
Born Lazar Meir in Russia, Canadian-American film producer Louis B. Mayer was the Mayer in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He was one of the founders of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences known for the Oscars and the Academy Awards. He believed in wholesome entertainment. One wonders what in God’s name he was thinking when he uttered these last words.
5. Edgar Allan Poe — “Lord help my poor soul”
This macabre author’s death remains a mystery. He was found lost on the streets, delirious and in poor health. Whether the raven had anything to do with it or not is anyone’s guess.
6. Lady Nancy Astor — “Am I dying or is this my birthday?”
This dying socialite woke up from her death bed, saw her family surrounding her, and in confusion stated her famous last words. Unfortunately, it was not the latter.
7. Aleister Crowley – “I am perplexed. Satan! Get out!”
Once an eccentric, always an eccentric. This occultist’s last words were unsurprisingly….well…weird. He was responsible for founding the philosophy and religion of Thelema. The world will never know what he was so perplexed about (do we really want to know?).
8. Frank Sinatra – “I’m losing it”
Old blue eyes was suffering from dementia when he uttered these last words. The mere fact that Sinatra was well aware of his impending demise is impressive.
9. J.M. Barrie – “I can’t sleep”
J.M. Barrie was a Scottish author who created the character Peter Pan. One can imagine what his family’s response was to his last words, “I can’t sleep.” Perhaps a comforting “you will now, only forever” was the appropriate response?
10. Hector Hugh Munro – “Put out the bloody cigarette!”
Alternatively known as Saki, this famous British writer was considered witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre. His stories satirized Edwardian society. Considered a master of the short story, he died in 1916.
11. Louisa May Alcott – “Is it not meningitis?”
Slowly dying from mercury poisoning, this befuddled and curious American novelist, the author of “Little Women,” gasped her last breath to inquire the real cause of her death. Sorry, it’s death.
12. George Miller Beard – “Rain has always been a harbinger of tragedy for me”
Neurologist George Miller Beard hauntingly and poetically whispered these tragic last words. He was a big advocate for using electricity for medical treatment.
13. Chris Farley – “Please don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me!”
These were the last words of “Saturday Night Live” comedian Chris Farley, spoken to a prostitute who was leaving his apartment. He died shortly after of a drug overdose, alone in his apartment. He was 33.
14. Winston Churchill –“I’m bored with it all”
One of the greatest wartime leaders of the 20th century, this British prime minister had clearly had enough by the time he checked out. Churchill was the only British prime minister to win the Nobel Prize in literature and was the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the U.S.
15. Richard Harris – “It was the food! Don’t touch the food!”
These were the distressing last words of famous Irish actor Richard Harris, as he was wheeled out to the ambulance from a hotel. He died from Hodgkin’s disease. Harris played magician Albus Dumbledore, protector of the boy who lived, in the first two Harry Potter movies.