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Famous last words of 18 famous people
Business Insider ^ | 10/13/2015 | Elena Holodny

Posted on 10/13/2015 7:42:54 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

People have always been fascinated by the last words of others.

Perhaps they hold a touch of wisdom, or a final joke, or even confirmation of who's getting what in the will.

In light of that, Business Insider put together a list of the reported last words of 18 famous historical figures.

Check them out below.

1. Karl Marx, philosopher.

"Last words are for fools who haven't said enough."

________________________________

2. Richard Feynman, theoretical physicist. Nobel Prize winner.

"I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring."

________________________________

3. Archimedes, mathematician.

"Stand away, fellow, from my diagram!"

Archimedes was killed during the Second Punic War. According to the historian Plutarch, a soldier reportedly came up to the mathematician and told him to go with him to Marcellus. Archimedes, however, refused to do so until he finished the problem he was working on. Enraged, the soldier killed him.

________________________________

4. Napoléon Bonaparte, French military and political leader.

"France, the army, the head of the army, Joséphine."

________________________________

5. Humphrey Bogart, actor.

"I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis."

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: famouspeople; lastwords
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To: SeekAndFind
Michael "Big Mike" Zargunavitch Zarguna, my grandfather's last words: Awww crap... it's the light..."
41 posted on 10/13/2015 8:34:42 AM PDT by FredZarguna (A Kenyan appears to have infiltrated the lumberyard.)
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To: Jan_Sobieski
d. Jesus

"τετελεσται"

(perfect tense)

42 posted on 10/13/2015 8:39:35 AM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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To: Celtic Conservative
He was a brave man, who did not lead from the rear. He was shot or nicked several times, including three bullets to the leg, wrist, and shoulder at Antietam.

The real irony is that Sedgwick was right: the Confederates almost certainly could not hit an elephant at that range, and he was killed by a round that was either not intended for him, or was blind luck.

People claim the snipers were about 1000 yards away, but careful measurements taken by the NPS place the actual distance at about 550 yards.

You'll get varying opinions about how accurate snipers and their rifles were in those days, but most agree that 300 yards was about the limit of complete surety range for weapons used by Confederates at Spotsylvania, with 500-700 yards being a 1/4 proposition, and 1000 yards being about 1/10. [It gets heated on the Civil War message boards, with some people saying that using black powder and the packing methods of the day, and no spotters, anything over 400 yards was a complete crapshoot, to others who say Civil War snipers hit 700 yards all the time...]

Add to that, Sedgwick was moving up and down the line, so he was not stationary, and you should probably conclude it was a very lucky shot.

The function of the sharpshooters in that case was to postpone effective deployment as long as possible, and not necessarily to kill a Union general. Obviously they'd accept that as a bonus.

43 posted on 10/13/2015 8:54:04 AM PDT by FredZarguna (A Kenyan appears to have infiltrated the lumberyard.)
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To: Celtic Conservative
” his last words? “c’mon, boys, there’s nothing to worry about! They can’t hit anything from this dist...”

John Segwick, Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Range ~1000yds, head shot below left eye. Probably a Whitworth

44 posted on 10/13/2015 8:54:43 AM PDT by Polynikes (Ahh You teal da money. We talk to you den. Hombre - 1967)
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To: SeekAndFind

Custer: Where did all those effin Indians come from?


45 posted on 10/13/2015 8:57:40 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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To: Polynikes

Was that the kind that took a hexagonal bullet?

CC


46 posted on 10/13/2015 8:58:10 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (Lightspeed: 186,000 miles per second. It's not just a good idea, it's THE LAW!* *= ecomcon proofread)
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To: TexasRepublic

Adolf Hitler: “This marriage is finished.”


47 posted on 10/13/2015 9:02:31 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Polynikes
The version of the story you know is an exaggeration.


48 posted on 10/13/2015 9:06:39 AM PDT by FredZarguna (A Kenyan appears to have infiltrated the lumberyard.)
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To: SeekAndFind

My favorite tombstone inscription reads;

“Here lies the body of Annie Proctor,
Took a purge but didn’t call a doctor,
She could not stay, she had to go,
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.”


49 posted on 10/13/2015 9:06:43 AM PDT by Exeter (Hillary Clinton's new campaign slogan-"Gimme that crown! It's MINE!")
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To: dfwgator

“Or “I wonder what this button does.” “

That one was going around after the Space Shuttle Challenger blew up:

Q: What were Christa McAuliffe’s last words?

A: “I wonder what this button does?”


50 posted on 10/13/2015 9:08:50 AM PDT by PLMerite (The Revolution...will not be kind.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Ge. John Sedgwick

“They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.”

Shortly before being killed by a Confederate sniper from supposedly approximately 1000 yards away.

51 posted on 10/13/2015 9:10:26 AM PDT by stylin19a (obama = Fredo Smart)
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To: CrazyIvan

arg...I should have read further...


52 posted on 10/13/2015 9:13:41 AM PDT by stylin19a (obama = Fredo Smart)
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To: PLMerite

The other joke I heard was, “What were the last words heard on Challenger? ‘Bud Light’”


53 posted on 10/13/2015 9:18:13 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: WakeUpAndVote

Gen. Stonewall Jackson, dying & delirious after being hit by friendly fire:

“No, no, let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees.”

This was later corrupted into,

“Carry me across the river, boys, and let me rest under the shade of the trees.”


54 posted on 10/13/2015 9:27:01 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: xrmusn

W.C. Fields’ epitaph, not last words:

“On the whole, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”

My uncle who was a lifelong avid golfer had for his epitaph:

“This is my ninth hole in one, and my last!”


55 posted on 10/13/2015 9:30:08 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("The Second Amendment is more important than Islam.")
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To: SeekAndFind
Arnold Schoenberg, who developed the Twelve-tone technique of music composition, died in 1951: his last words were ‘Harmony! Harmony! Harmony!’

If you dare to listen, this is his String Quartet No. 3.

56 posted on 10/13/2015 9:34:39 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (I'll vote for Jeb when Terri Schiavo endorses him.)
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To: Ronald_Magnus

Right before he kicked a Bucket. Loved that Movie.


57 posted on 10/13/2015 9:42:42 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (THEY LIVE, and we're the only ones wearing the Sunglasses.)
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To: Larry Lucido; Mean Daddy

58 posted on 10/13/2015 9:48:12 AM PDT by Fightin Whitey
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To: SeekAndFind

“Let’s roll!”


59 posted on 10/13/2015 9:51:26 AM PDT by aquila48
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To: Celtic Conservative

“Was that the kind that took a hexagonal bullet?”

Yes, the Whitworth fired a hexagonal bullet. At one time, replica Whitworth rifles were being sold - I would love to try one.


60 posted on 10/13/2015 10:03:21 AM PDT by TexasRepublic (Socialism is the gospel of envy and the religion of thieves)
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