Leave Them Speechless

Throughout history, there are plenty of quotes and phrases that have been memorialized for their impact, and none seem to have as much influence as last words. With that in mind, here are 20 last words from famous and significant figures throughout history.

William P. Gottlieb on Wikimedia

1. Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra was a famous American singer who lived from 1915 to 1998. Best known for songs like Fly Me to the Moon and My Way, he had a bit of wisdom to share as he passed. Keeping it succinct, he said, “I’m losing.”

Photograph by Capitol Records, per a credit found in the 1959 edition of the International Celebrity Register at page 696. No known source credits an individual photographer. on Wikimedia

2. George Orwell

On the other hand, Orwell had a bit more to say, stating, “At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.” Best known for 1984, this successful writer and journalist lived from 1903 to 1950.

BBC on Wikimedia

3. Vladimir Nabokov

Nabokov was a Russian-American novelist who lived from 1899 to 1977 and was best known for works like Lolita and Pale Fire. He was also surprisingly a butterfly expert, and with that in mind, stated, “A certain butterfly is already on the wing.”

Giuseppe Pino (Mondadori Publishers) on Wikimedia

4. Nostradamus

Nostradamus lived from 1503 to 1566 and was known as an astrologer, physician, and, most importantly, a prophet who predicted the future. His work, Les Propheties, consists of numerous prophecies, some that have yet to come true. Famously, he said, “Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here.” This prophecy did, in fact, come true.

César de Notre-Dame on Wikimedia

5. Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was a famous and capable spy and scout who led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad network. She lived from 1822 to 1913 and, in her final moments, said, “Give my love to the churches. Tell the women to stand firm. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Library of Congress on Unsplash

6. Isaac Newton

Newton, best known for his work on gravity, humbly stated, “I don’t know what I may seem to the world. But as to myself, I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore and diverting myself now and then in finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than the ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.”

Godfrey Kneller on Wikimedia

7. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Best known for creating Sherlock Holmes, this writer and physician lived from 1859 to 1930. At the age of 71, he turned to his wife and said, “You are wonderful,” before passing on.

Walter Benington on Wikimedia

8. Herman Melville

Another writer, this time of American nationality, is Herman Melville, who famously wrote the story of the great white whale. He lived from 1819 to 1891 and wasn’t as appreciated in his lifetime as he is today. With his heart still in his stories, he said, “God bless Captain Vere!”

George G. Rockwood on Wikimedia

9. John Wayne

John Wayne was a famous American actor best known for his roles in Westerns and as a symbol of rugged masculinity. He lived from 1907 to 1979 and said to his wife, “Of course, I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”

Photo by Ned Scott on Wikimedia

10. Leonardo Da Vinci

Da Vinci was an eccentric and renowned painter, engineer, and inventor who created works like the Mona Lisa. In his final moments, the distraught artist said, “I have offended God and mankind because my work did not reach the quality it should have.”

Zach Dyson on Unsplash

11. Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway lived a complicated life from 1899 to 1961. He was a novelist who wrote many famous books like For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Sun Also Rises. He even won a Nobel Prize but eventually succumbed to his inner darkness. To his wife, he said, “Goodnight, my kitten.”

Lloyd Arnold on Wikimedia

12. Josephine Baker

Baker was an American and French entertainer who also doubled as a World War II spy. She was part of the French resistance and became an icon for her dance routines in Paris. At a final party held in her honor, she said, “Oh, you young people act like old men. You are no fun.”

Daan Noske / Anefo on Wikimedia

13. Vladmir Lenin

Lenin was an influential leader who lived from 1870 to 1924 and led the Russian Revolution. He was also the first leader of Soviet Russia and has left lasting impacts in his wake. In his final moments, his dog brought him a bird in its mouth, and Lenin replied, “Good dog.”

Pavel Semyonovich Zhukov (1870-1942) on Wikimedia

14. Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette gets quite a bad reputation for famously, but falsely, saying “Let them eat cake” when faced with the French Revolution. She was seen as a symbol of extravagance, but in her final moments, as she was dragged to the guillotine, she accidentally stepped on the foot of its handler and said, “Pardon me, sir” in French.

Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun on Wikimedia

15. Winston Churchill

Churchill was immortalized by his efforts in World War II and became a figure many flocked to. He lived from 1874 to 1965 and even won a Nobel Prize, and in his final moments, he succinctly said, “I’m bored with it all.”

United Nations Information Office, New York on Wikimedia

16. Joan Crawford

Crawford was a Hollywood star who lived from 1904 to 1977 and was revered for her acting skills and unique look. She won an Academy Award, and in her final moments, was accompanied by a housemaid who prayed for her. In response, Crawford said, “Don’t you dare ask God to help me,” before passing.

George Hurrell on Wikimedia

17. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs passed away recently in 2011 and is best known for his work co-founding Apple, a company that still has great influence over the modern world. In his last moments, he simply said, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”

Matthew Yohe (talk) on Wikimedia

18. Marquis de Favras

While not as famous as others on this list, the Marquis de Favras had some wisdom to impart in his last moments. He was arrested for conspiracies, and when handed his final fatal sentence, he looked at the document and said, “I see that you have made three spelling mistakes.”

Anonyme, graveur on Wikimedia

19. Bessie Smith

Smith was a famous blues singer who lived from 1894 to 1937 and popularized African-American blues during the Jazz Age. She was known as the Empress of the Blues, and in her final moments declared, “I’m going, but I’m going in the name of the Lord.”

Carl Van Vechten on Wikimedia

20. James Brown

James Brown lived from 1933 to 2006 and was considered the Godfather of Soul, bringing up hits like I Got You and Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag. He advocated for civil rights throughout his life and simply said, “I’m going away tonight,” before passing.

Heinrich Klaffs on Wikimedia