“It matters not, man; God hath many things in store for us. And I know many means to do her Majesty good service and to make us rich..”
A hero to some, a pirate to others, this is reportedly a rallying speech he delivered shortly before dying from dysentery aboard his ship off the coast of Portobelo, Panama. Before his demise, Francis Drake asked to be dressed in full body armour, and was buried at sea in a lead-lined coffin a few miles off the coastline, he was 56 years old.
“What is this thing I’m feeling, I’m going to sleep now.”
The martial artist and actor spoke these final words to colleague Betty Ting before taking a painkiller and lying down for a nap. Bruce Lee never awoke from the nap – an autopsy would later conclude that he died from cerebral edema due to a reaction to compounds present in the painkiller. On the discovery of his unresponsive body Lee was brought to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kowloon Hong Kong but declared dead on arrival at the age of 32.
“I’m tired of fighting.. I do not want to fight anymore..”
Erik Weisz, known professionally as Harry Houdini, delivered these deathbed words to his brother Tanch, just before passing away in Detroit’s Grace Hospital. Aged 52, the famous escapologist and illusionist died from peritonitis due to a ruptured appendix.
“Let’s have a really good red wine tonight.”
The psychiatrist and psychoanalyst spoke these final words, expressing a desire for a drink of red wine, before dying at his home in Küsnacht Switzerland. Carl Jung passed away “in great peace” after experiencing heart and circulatory issues, he was 85 years old.
“I want to go when I want. It is tasteless to prolong life artificially. I have done my share; it is time to go. I will do it elegantly.”
The famous theoretical physicist died from internal bleeding caused by a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. He was offered surgery which would have extended his life but refused and this was his response. Albert Einstein passed away in Princeton Hospital New Jersey he was 76 years old.
“Let me go to the house of the Father.”
The head of the Catholic Church, and 263rd successor to Peter, spoke these deathbed words to his aides in his native language Polish. John Paul II died from heart failure at the age of 84 in his private apartment at the Vatican.
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet.”
This is a quote from one of Stephen Hawking’s books – Brief Answers to the Big Questions. At the age of 21 he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, which over time gradually paralysed him. The scientist, professor and author died peacefully at his home in Cambridge, he was aged 76.
“Schur, you remember our ‘contract’ not to leave me in the lurch when the time had come. Now it is nothing but torture and makes no sense… Talk it over with Anna and if she thinks it’s right, then make an end of it.”
Sigmund Freud was in severe pain from terminal cancer when he asked his friend and doctor Max Schur to end his suffering by administering an overdose of morphine. Freud’s daughter Anna had wanted to postpone the death of her father, but Schur convinced her it would be pointless to keep him alive. The neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis died at his home in London, he was 83 years of age.
“I believe we must adjourn this meeting to another place.”
This humorous quip, delivered with a smile to friends at his bedside, were the final words of 67 year old Adam Smith. The economist and philosopher, author of ‘The Wealth of Nations’ passed away at his home Panmure House in Edinburgh after a painful illness.
“Hold it! Hold it! Don’t get excited. Let’s cool it, brothers.”
According to some reports, these were the final words of Malcolm X who was assassinated by three gunmen in Manhattan’s Audubon Ballroom. The 39 year old human rights activist and revolutionary was shot 21 times and taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
