“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.
“What dost thou fear? Strike, man, strike!”
A hero to some, a pirate to others, these were his last words to the executioner who hesitated before delivering the fatal axe blow. Walter Raleigh was beheaded on the orders of Britain’s King James, following an attack by Raleigh’s men on a Spanish outpost, violating a peace treaty between the two countries.
“Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy.. how can I ever forget them?”
Charles Schulz’ last words came in the form of a goodbye message to his fans that was published in the very last edition of the original ‘Peanuts’ comic strip. The 77 year old cartoonist died of a heart attack in his sleep the night before that final Sunday strip was published.
“Maybe I’m dying”
The puppeteer and animator, most famous for creating the Muppets, spoke these final deathbed words to his ex-wife Jane. Jim Henson was 53 years old when he died in hospital of organ failure resulting from streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.
“Drink to me, drink to my health, you know I can’t drink any more.”
Pablo Picasso spoke these final words on the evening before his death, when he and his wife had been entertaining friends for dinner. The 91 year old painter and sculptor died the following morning from a heart attack brought on by pulmonary edema.
