“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.
“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.
“I don’t feel well.”
Three weeks after having surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain, Diego Maradona spoke these last tragic words to nephew Johnny Esposito. The 60 year old soccer legend suffered a heart attack in his sleep and passed away at home in Buenos Aires.
“I’m ready.. it’s been a while.”
These were the actor’s last words from his final public Instagram post. Val Kilmer died in his sleep of pneumonia at home in Los Angeles, he was 65 years old.
“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.
“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.
“Ben, make sure you play ‘Take My Hand, Precious Lord’ in the meeting tonight. Play it real pretty.”
King was on the balcony of his motel apartment when he was fatally shot by sniper James Earl Ray. The civil rights activist was rushed to St Joseph’s hospital for emergency surgery but died from his injuries.
The last words of the 39 year old social activist and Baptist minister were spoken to a musician Ben Branch, who was going to play that night at a meeting King was due to attend.
“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.
