FINAL WORDS

"I Told You I Was Sick." 10 Famous Last Words Explained

Image: Matt Botsford

One wise old man once said: "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inextinguishable source of magic. Capable of inflicting injury and remedying it. But in our opinion that isn’t the only thing words can do. Even in the darkest times, words can also make us laugh and find the magic behind the afterlife. In this article, we’ve gathered ten famous epitaphs that had a thing or two to comment on. Read on and enjoy!

Image: Emre Turkan

We already know that the end of this road called life is the same for us all, no one can escape death. Now, for Mel Blanc, the man of 1000 voices, that knowledge was perfectly represented by his most iconic line.

Mel Blanc was a legendary voice actor and the voice of over 400 characters among those you can find Bugs Bunny and other Looney Tunes. And the words were forever fixed on his tombstone.

Image: Adi Goldstein

This phrase belongs to Joan Hackett, the American film and television actress. Joan had many prominent roles in her life, including Will Penny, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Only When I Laugh which won her the Gloden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She was diagnosed with cancer in 1981 and her death came on October two years later. Her remains are buried in The Abbey of The Psalms Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever Cemetery and whoever visits her tomb receives a final request from her: "Go away - I’m asleep!"

Image: Unseen Histories

Our final words deserve a good thought before we make any decision, they can be forever used to remind the world of our important contributions and that was the case of Martin Luther King Jr. who quoted himself in one of the most famous speeches in history "I have a dream."

Faithful to his inspirational spirit, Luther King’s final words are "Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty I’m free at last!"

Image: Austin Ban

It is no surprise that the best epitaphs come from people who knew their way around words while they were alive. Dorothy Parker is a true testament to that.

The American poet and writer was one of the founders of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers, and literary critics who got together at the Algonquin Hotel to collaborate in columns that were published across the country.

Parker was known for her witty remarks and her final words are one last joke for us: "Excuse my dust!"

Image: geralt

No, this is not a glitch, you’re still in the right article. This extremely long number is Pi and it is also the choice of words, or number better, of Ludolph van Ceulen.

The German-Dutch mathematician was the first person to calculate the numerical value of Pi to bring more precision to the constant. The result of his lifetime work is a number of 20 digits and an amazing epitaph that will stay forever with his remains.

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The Ramones made history with their music, and however tumultuous, Dee Dee Ramone’s contributions made him the legend he is still today.

His final words are just a reflection of the essence of the punk rock band and his troubled life, a final goodbye from a rebellious spirit who lived on his own terms and left an indelible mark on the history of music. But everything must come to an end and so he says: "OK… I gotta go now."

Image: Vincentas Liskauskas

Hollywood can turn your life straight upside down, but no one ever said the road is any easy. Bette Davis is not the exception, but her resilience and determination brought overwhelming success as a result.

Now, her epitaph "She did it the hard way" is proof of the numerous challenges she had to overcome, but is a reminder of what can be achieved if one is driven by tenacity.

Image: TopSphere Media

Talk about a wordplay, right? Is this epitaph inviting us to step into the afterlife? Is it an opening credit to an eerie movie?

Considering it is Jack Lemmon’s epitaph, a beloved actor, one can easily imagine it reflects his connection to his craft. As short as "in" can be, it makes us think of a person who is always "in the scene" and never truly out of the spotlight. Short, powerful, and a great way to be remembered, don’t you think?

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Death on its own is a sad, tragic business for everyone. So we do need someone to be brave enough to toy with it and make irreverent remarks on its consequences.

Spike Milligan, a legendary Irish comedian and writer took that job seriously and chose an epitaph that can make anyone laugh in the face of such adversity. "I told you I was sick" is a genius reminder of his legacy. And a reminder to pay attention to our loved ones’ warnings, right?

Image: Pereanu Sebastian

We couldn’t end this article without mentioning what is probably one of the most famous epitaphs in the world. None other than the great Charles Bukowski is to thank for it.

"Don’t try" is actually a phrase he used to describe his writing. According to him, that was the key to good writing, which can’t be forced. But as an epitaph, it captures the essence and philosophy of his views and contributions. And in this context, it is a reminder that we are all going the same way, there’s nothing we can’t do about it so we might as well live today!

From struggle to stardom

He became a millionaire at 65! 10 inspiring people who overcame the odds

Image: William Warby

Success might look like a straight climb to the top, but for most people, it's a journey full of challenges. Even the most talented and hardworking individuals have faced tough obstacles along the way. Today, we bring the stories of 10 famous stars who pushed through hard times and came out successfully. Their experiences are sure to inspire you!

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Although he's the undisputed King to all of us, Elvis didn't always wear the crown. When he was very young, his family struggled through the Great Depression, and that was just the beginning of the hardships. As he grew older and set his sights on a music career, his unique style and revolutionary dance moves often got him turned down. After one of his early performances at the Grand Ole Opry, someone even told him he didn't have a future in music! Can you believe it? But Elvis never gave up, and the recording of That's All Right shot him to fame.

Image: Brett Wharton

Even our nation's Founding Fathers faced tough struggles to accomplish their goals. And Benjamin Franklin was no exception. As a child, his parents couldn't afford to send him to school. In fact, he only got a formal education for two years. He gained all his knowledge and wisdom through self-teaching and hands-on experimentation. Some of the fruits of his study and hard work include the lightning rod, bifocals, and much more, not to mention his many political and diplomatic contributions that helped the United States grow.

Image: Geoffrey Moffett

When the renowned Jim Carrey was about 15, he had to drop out of school and work as a janitor alongside his brother to help support their family. Even after living in a van, the actor never gave up and kept pushing forward to make it in the entertainment industry. Despite facing early rejection as a stand-up comedian, his breakthrough eventually came with unforgettable roles in Ace Ventura, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, and The Truman Show.

Image: Marques Thomas

Success can show up when you least expect it; just ask Colonel Harland Sanders. Before founding the famous KFC, he faced many hardships, including losing his father while still young, and taking on various jobs to support his younger siblings.

It wasn’t until his 40s that he opened his first restaurant, but the venture failed and nearly bankrupted him. When he later tried to sell his now-famous 11-spice recipe, he was rejected more than a thousand times before finally hearing a yes. Finally, at the age of 65, he launched one of the most iconic fast-food brands in the world.

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Although he’s one of the most recognized stars in the world today, the road to fame wasn’t easy for Sylvester Stallone. His first major challenge came at birth, when a complication caused partial facial paralysis. Later, when he pursued his dream of acting, he struggled to land any roles, which led to financial problems and even a period of homelessness. But he never stopped believing. During this time, he wrote the screenplay for the iconic Rocky and insisted on playing the lead role himself.

Image: Joshua Hanson

Oprah faced poverty at a very young age, but it didn't stop her from reaching success. She worked hard in school and earned a scholarship to college. Early in her career, Oprah faced discrimination and setbacks in the media industry. At one of her first jobs as a TV reporter, a boss criticized her for "getting too emotionally involved with stories." However, it was exactly that sensitivity that helped make her the superstar she is today!

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Life can get hard for everyone, even geniuses! Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, is a perfect example. After overcoming many challenges to launch Apple, he was actually pushed out of his own company in 1985! But, as life often does, it rewarded him: Apple called him back in 1997 during a financial crisis. Jobs returned with bold ideas that led to revolutionary products like the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad—innovations that revived Apple and reshaped modern technology.

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Stephen King sent one of his earliest novels to 30 different publishers and got rejected by every single one. Want to know which novel it was? It was Carrie! Frustrated, he threw the manuscript in the trash, but his wife, Tabitha, retrieved it and reminded him that talent and perseverance go hand in hand. And that's exactly what happened! Today, he's one of the most famous writers in the world, with his books translated into dozens of languages and adapted into numerous films and TV series.

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Before becoming one of the greatest basketball players ever, Michael Jordan faced a tough time early in his career. As a teenager, he was cut from his high school’s varsity team. But instead of letting this rejection hold him back, it became a source of motivation! From that moment on, Michael poured all his energy into improving and proving himself. Coaches and critics doubted him too, questioning his size and skills. But, as everyone knows, his talent and determination ultimately won!

Image: De'Andre Bush

We'll always remember Harrison Ford for his iconic role in Star Wars and for other major roles like Indiana Jones. But before becoming the star we know today, he had to face several hardships. When he moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s to pursue acting, he struggled to find work. So, to support his family, he taught himself carpentry. But fate had something special in store for him. One of his carpentry clients was none other than George Lucas himself! From there, the rest is history.