“There is no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.”
While his literal final words were never recorded, this is a poignant quote from the science-fiction author, most well known for the futuristic Dune series of novels. Frank Herbert died of a pulmonary embolism while recovering from surgery for pancreatic cancer, he was 65 years old.
“I think it’s brilliant. I’ve fallen completely in love with it. And the promise of what’s to come once people start developing in Cocoa is awesome…”
Douglas Adams, a technology enthusiast, was excited about the then-new Mac OS X he had been trying, and wrote this update on his personal website two weeks before his death at the age of 49.
The author and environmentalist, best known as the creator of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, collapsed from a heart attack at a private gym and died in Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
“We should remember our dying and try to live that our death brings no pleasure to the world.”
This quote is taken from the Nobel Prize winning author’s book East of Eden. John Steinbeck passed away from heart disease at his home in New York City, where his writing career had begun. He was 66 and had been a lifelong smoker.
“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God”
This was Maya Angelou’s poignant final public tweet before her death at the age of 86. The writer, poet and civil rights activist passed away at her home in Winston-Salem from declining health including heart problems.
“End? No, the journey doesn’t end here. Death is just another path, one that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and then you see it.”
These are reputedly some of the final words of the writer and philologist, author of books The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Tolkien died in hospital from a bleeding ulcer and chest infection at the age of 81.
“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.
“Give me my glasses.”
Too weak to talk, the writer and humorist wrote down these words on some paper as he was dying, a request for his glasses so he could better see his daughter Clara. Mark Twain died of a heart attack at his mansion house Stormfield in Redding Connecticut, he was 74 years old.
“Come, come, no weakness! Let’s be a man to the last! Now, I shall go to sleep.”
These are said to be the deathbed words of the Romantic poet and satirist, who is perhaps best remembered for writing the epic poem Don Juan. Lord Byron had been fighting in Greece for the country’s independence, when he succumbed to fever in the town of Missolonghi and died at the age of 36.
“I’ve had eighteen straight whiskies. I think that’s the record!”
Just days before his death, Dylan Thomas a heavy drinker boasted about a drinking binge he’d been on at the White Horse tavern in New York. Following this, the 39 year old poet and writer became severely ill with a chest illness and slipped into a coma. He was taken to hospital but died days later – the official cause of death was pneumonia.
“Is it not meningitis?”
These were reportedly the last words of the novelist and poet, most well known for writing Little Women, who wrongly believed she was ill with meningitis.
Louisa May Alcott was 55 years of age when she suffered a stroke and lost consciousness, she remained in this state until her death three days later.
