Famous Last Words Part 1

A list of famous last words from various famous people including the Buddha, Christopher Columbus, Charles Darwin, and Benjamin Franklin.

The Last Words of

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY (1767-1848), American President

"This is the last of earth! I am content."

ALLEN, ETHAN (1738-1789), American Revolutionary soldier

In answer to his doctor, who said, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you": "Waiting, are they? Waiting, are they? Well--let 'em wait!"

ANDRE, JOHN (1751-1780), English officer

On the scaffold: "It will be but a momentary pang."

ARCHIMEDES (287?-212 B.C.), Greek mathematician

To a Roman soldier: "Stand away, fellow, from my diagram."

ARNOLD, BENEDICT (1741-1801), American traitor

Referring to his Continental uniform: "Let me die in the old uniform in which I fought my battles for freedom. May God forgive me for putting on any other."

BEECHER, HENRY WARD (1813-1887), American clergyman

"Now comes the mystery."

BISMARCK, OTTO EDUARD LEOPOLD VON (1815-1898), Prussian statesman

"I do not want a lying official epitaph. Write on my tomb that I was the faithful servant of my master, the Emperor William, King of Prussia."

BONAPARTE, NAPOLEON (1769-1821), French Emperor

"France! Army! Head of the army! Josephine!"

BOOTH, JOHN WILKES (1838-1865), Lincoln's assassin

"Tell my mother--I died--for my country. I thought I did for the best. Useless! Useless!"

BUDDHA (563?-483? B.C.), Indian philosopher

"Beloved, that which causes life, causes also decay and death. Never forget this; let your minds be filled with this truth. I called you to make it known to you."

BYRON, GEORGE GORDON (1788-1824), English poet

"Now I shall go to sleep."

CAESAR, JULIUS (100-44 B.C.), Roman statesman

"Thou, too, Brutus, my son!"

CARLYLE, THOMAS (1795-1881), Scottish historian

"So this is Death--well--"

COLUMBUS, CHRISTOPHER (1451-1506), Italian explorer

"Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

CONFUCIUS (551-479 B.C.), Chinese philosopher

"No intelligent Monarch arises; there is not one in the kingdom that will make me his master. My time has come to die."

CRANE, HART (1899-1932), American poet

As he jumped overboard to commit suicide: "Good-bye, everybody!"

CROMWELL, OLIVER (1599-1658), English statesman

"My desire is to make what haste I may to be gone."

DARWIN, CHARLES (1809-1882), English naturalist

"I am not the least afraid to die."

EARHART, AMELIA (1898-1937), American aviatrix

In a letter to her husband before her last flight: "Please know that I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others."

EDISON, THOMAS (1847-1951), American inventor

In a coma: "It is very beautiful over there."

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN (1706-1790), American scientist and philosopher

To his daughter when she asked him to change his position in bed: "A dying man can do nothing easy."