“Do not disturb my circles!”
Ancient Greek mathematician and inventor, not wanting his studies interrupted, uttered these final words to a Roman soldier who then stabbed him.
Archimedes (287 BCE – 212 BCE)
Category: Historical
Socrates (470 BCE – 399 BCE)
“Crito, we owe a chicken to Asclepius. Please, don’t forget to pay the debt.”
Philosopher of ancient Greece, Socrates refused the option to be exiled and instead died by drinking poison, after being found guilty of impiety and corrupting the youth of Athens.
Confucius (551 BCE – 479 BCE)
“Heaven has turned against me. No wise ruler arises, and no one in the Empire wishes to make me his teacher. The hour of my death has come.”
Final words of Confucius the great philosopher of ancient China, who died of natural causes, at the age of 72.
Hannibal (247 BCE – 182 BCE)
“Let us relieve the Romans from the anxiety they have so long experienced, since they think it tries their patience too much to wait for an old man’s death.”
The Carthaginian general and military genius reputedly left behind this letter before taking poison to escape Roman soldiers.
Robert the Bruce (1274 – 1329)
“Thanks be to God! For I shall now die in peace, since I know that the most valiant and accomplished knight of my kingdom will perform that for me which I am unable to do for myself.”
Robert the First King of the Scots, referring to the removal of his heart after he was dead and taking it to Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre, the reputed burial site of Jesus. He died at the Manor of Cardross, near Dumbarton Scotland.
Richard the Lionheart (1157 – 1199)
“Youth, I forgive you. Loose his chains and give him 100 shillings.”
Fatally wounded by an archer, King Richard I of England gave orders for the killer to be released. His soldiers ignored this last request and had the archer executed after the King’s death in Châlus France.
Queen Elizabeth I (1533 – 1603)
“All my possessions for a moment of time.”
The last words of Elizabeth the First, Queen of England. She died at Richmond Palace during a severe bout of melancholy.
Mary Queen of Scots (1542 – 1587)
“O Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Queen of Scotland, quoting the words of Jesus before being executed by beheading at Fotheringhay Castle.
Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793)
“Pardon me sir, I did not do it on purpose.”
Queen of France during the revolution, spoken after stepping on the executioner’s foot as she approached the guillotine to be beheaded at the Place de la Concorde.
George Washington (1732 – 1799)
“I die hard, but I am not afraid to go.. I am just going. Have me decently buried, and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than two days after I am dead. Do you understand me? ‘Tis well.”
The final words of the first President of the US, spoken to his private secretary – he wanted to be certain of not being entombed alive. George Washington died at his home from a ‘violent inflammation of the throat’ at the age of 84.