15 of the most moving and memorable remarks made by renowned people just before dying — and what their words mean to the living
1. Do this above all.
“Love one another.”
—George Harrison (1943–2001), to his wife and son
Before that Harrison, who was bedridden in a Swiss clinic, received a visit from Ringo Starr. The drummer had to leave to catch a flight to Boston, where his daughter was in the hospital because of a brain tumor. Harrison’s last words to his fellow Beatle: “Do you want me to come with you?”
2. Take pleasure.
“That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted.”
—Lou Costello (1906–1959).
3. Strive for grace under pressure.
“I am sorry to trouble you chaps. I don’t know how you get along so fast with the traffic on the roads these days.”
—James Bond creator Ian Fleming (1908–1964), to the ambulance team as they drove him to the hospital
4. Remember, life is short.
“The story of life is quicker than the blink of an eye, the story of love is hello and goodbye, until we meet again.”
—Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970), in a poem found next to his bed in the London hotel where he died
5. Be generous.
“I love you too, honey. Good luck with your show.”
—Desi Arnaz (1917–1986), to ex-wife Lucille Ball, who was making a comeback on the sitcom “Life With Lucy”
6. Be brave.
“Are you ready? OK. Let’s roll.”
—Todd Beamer (1968–2001), a software salesman who acted with a group of passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 to take back control of the plane from al-Qaeda hijackers on 9/11
All 44 people on board were killed, but no one on the ground was injured. Flight 93 was the only plane hijacked that day that failed to reach the destination al-Qaeda had intended for it.
7. Live life in radical amazement.
“Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.”
—Steve Jobs (1955–2011), as reported by his sister, novelist Mona Simpson
Simpson met her long-lost brother, who had been adopted, for the first time when she was 25, but they became very close and remained so for the next 27 years. “Novelty was not Steve’s highest value,” she wrote in a eulogy. “Beauty was.”
8. Take time.
“Don’t be in such a hurry.”
—Billie Holiday (1915–1959)
9. Maintain a positive outlook.
“Why not? Yeah … Beautiful.”
—Timothy Leary (1920–1996)
10. Assert yourself.
“Absolutely not!”
—Montgomery Clift (1920–1966), when asked on the day he died if he’d like to watch “The Misfits,” which was about to air on TV
11. Stay true to your beliefs …
“Don’t you dare ask God to help me.”
—Joan Crawford (1904–1977), to her housekeeper, who had begun to pray out loud
12. … and to your tastes.
“I never should have switched from scotch to martinis.”
—Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957)
13. Once is enough.
“I hope the exit is joyful — and I hope never to return.”
—Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), from the final entry in her diary
14. Celebrate.
“Plaudite, amici, comedia finita est.” (Translation: “Applaud, my friends, the comedy is over.”)
—Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
15. Enjoy!
“I’ve had a hell of a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
—Errol Flynn (1909–1959)