Parting Words: Last Words from 32 Famous Faces – Part 2

The last words of the Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were: ‘Good dog,’ which he said to a dog that had brought him a dead bird. It’s thought that the cause of his death was syphilis.

2. Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the remote island of St Helena in 1821 and his last words were recorded as "France, armée, tête d'armée, Joséphine" (France, army, head of the army, Joséphine). He was probably delirious and simply summed up his three loves, his country, his exploits at the head of his army and his first wife.

3. The last words of American actor Paul Walker were to his friend Roger Rodas while entering his Porsche. They were “Let's go for a drive”. Rodas then went speeding and crashed the car into a tree, killing them both.

4. Benjamin Franklin’s last words were “A dying man can do nothing easy”, complaining about the difficulty to assume a more comfortable position on his deathbed.

5. The last words of American serial killer Arthur Gary Bishop was "I want to offer again my most profound and heartfelt apologies to my victims' families. I am truly sorry. I have tried my best to empathize with their grief and devastation and I hope they come to know of my concerns and prayers for them."

The last words of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning were "It is beautiful."

7. Australian bushranger Ned Kelly's last words were Allegedly, "Such is life."

8. Roman emperor Nero's last words were "Too late! But, ah, what fidelity!" to the soldier trying to save him after his suicide.

9. Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (20 May 1506), quoting Jesus as his last words were "Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit."

10. The final statement of an American murderer James W. Rodgers before facing a firing squad was "I done told you my last request… a bulletproof vest."

French physician Nostradamus last words were "Tomorrow, at sunrise, I shall no longer be here," correctly predicting his death.

12. The last words of convicted murderer Roosevelt Green were “I am about to die for a murder I did not commit, that someone else committed ... I love the Lord and hope that God takes me into his kingdom, and goodbye, [M]other.”

13. At his public execution, the last words of murderer William Palmer is said to have looked at the trapdoor on the gallows and asked the hangman, "Are you sure it's safe?

14. French writer Voltaire when asked by a priest to renounce Satan before his death. His last words were "Now is not the time for making new enemies."

15. "Let's do it!", were the last words of American criminal Gary Gilmore before being executed by firing squad. Gilmore is also oft-quoted as saying a few minutes earlier, as he walked past the Hi-Fi Murderers on his way to be executed was: "Adios, Pierre and Andrews. I'll be seeing you directly."

American statesman Alexander Hamilton’s last words were “Remember, my Eliza, you are a Christian”, addressing his wife after being mortally shot by a rival statesman in a duel.

17. The last words of Jesus are thought to be “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”, right before his death by crucifixion.

18. A female SS Guard Irma Grese last words was "Schnell" (translated as "Quick and glossed idiomatically as "Make it quick" or "Get it over with.")

19. English naturalist Charles Darwin's last words were "I am not the least afraid to die."

20. Australian killer John William Rook's last words to the hangman were "Freedom. Freedom at last, man."

The last words of German theologian Martin Luther who started the Protestant Reformation were “We are beggars, this is true.”

22. American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer’s last words were “I don't care if I live or die. Go ahead and kill me” to the fellow inmate who was just about to beat him to death.

23. The last words of Irish playwright Oscar Wilde were "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.

24. American criminal John Frederick Thanos’ last word was "Adios."

25. In 79 AD, as the Emperor Vespasian neared death, he said “Vae! Puto deus fio” which can be translated to “Dammit! I think I'm becoming a god.” He later died of a sudden attack of diarrhea.