By "Last Words", I am loosely referring to epitaphs, epigraphs, inscriptions, and the like. I say loosely because at some point the line got blurred, and my list of suitable last words for my eventual gravestone could also, in most cases, fall into the category of my literal last words, or "famous last words", the ones uttered with my last dying breath, if you will (yes, I have a dark soul and am not scared to admit it).
What follows are a few famous epigraphs that I stumbled upon after drafting my own list of epigraphs. My list of preferred epigraphs is found in Last Words Part 2.
Epitaph: An epitaph is a short piece of writing, verse, or tribute dedicated to a deceased person, most commonly inscribed on a tombstone, headstone, or memorial plaque.
Famous Epigraphs
"Here lies one whose name was writ in water." - John Keats
"Good friend for Jesus' sake forbeare,
To dig the dust enclosed here!
Blest be the man that spares these stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones." - William Shakespeare
A Tangent on Isaac Newton
Interestingly, my initial, first-pass research for Isaac Newton's epitaph referred to the simple "Here lies that which was mortal of Isaac Newton.” After additional research, Wikipedia lists the following Latin phrase (and the accompanying English translation):
H. S. E. ISAACUS NEWTON Eques Auratus, / Qui, animi vi prope divinâ, / Planetarum Motus, Figuras, / Cometarum semitas, Oceanique Aestus. Suâ Mathesi facem praeferente / Primus demonstravit: / Radiorum Lucis dissimilitudines, / Colorumque inde nascentium proprietates, / Quas nemo antea vel suspicatus erat, pervestigavit. / Naturae, Antiquitatis, S. Scripturae, / Sedulus, sagax, fidus Interpres / Dei O. M. Majestatem Philosophiâ asseruit, / Evangelij Simplicitatem Moribus expressit. / Sibi gratulentur Mortales, / Tale tantumque exstitisse / HUMANI GENERIS DECUS. / NAT. XXV DEC. A.D. MDCXLII. OBIIT. XX. MAR. MDCCXXVI,
Here is buried Isaac Newton, Knight, who by a strength of mind almost divine, and mathematical principles peculiarly his own, explored the course and figures of the planets, the paths of comets, the tides of the sea, the dissimilarities in rays of light, and, what no other scholar has previously imagined, the properties of the colours thus produced. Diligent, sagacious and faithful, in his expositions of nature, antiquity and the holy Scriptures, he vindicated by his philosophy the majesty of God mighty and good, and expressed the simplicity of the Gospel in his manners. Mortals rejoice that there has existed such and so great an ornament of the human race! He was born on 25th December 1642, and died on 20th March 1726.
Clearly, much longer and more elaborate than what was initially mentioned. Beyond this, Wikipedia also contains this juicy detail in relation to an epigraph that English poet Alexander Pope wrote for Newton that wasn't allowed at the time due to, well, the usual, obvious reasons (ahem, religion):
Nature, and Nature's laws lay hid in night.
God said, Let Newton be! and all was light.
Personally, I prefer Pope's version.
This might be a link to the relevant section from the Wikipedia article on Isaac Newton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton#:~:text=culture-,Recognition,1726
More Famous Ones
“I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.” - Robert Frost Link
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.” - F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (and also maybe the closing line of The Great Gatsby) Link
A Tangent on Yeats
“Cast a cold Eye
On Life, on Death.
Horseman, pass by!” - W. B. Yeats (also from his poem "Under Ben Bulben") Link
Another tidbit of information that arose out of rabbit-hole research. W. B. Yeats also has, I guess, a somewhat controversial translation of Jonathan Swift's (of Gulliver's Travels) epitaph that Swift originally composed in Latin. Wikipedia lists the following translations, and Yeats's translation, though I know no Latin, I'm guessing deviates due to artistic license.
The Original Latin version by Swift:
Hic depositum est Corpus
IONATHAN SWIFT S.T.D.
Hujus Ecclesiæ Cathedralis
Decani,
Ubi sæva Indignatio
Ulterius
Cor lacerare nequit,
Abi Viator
Et imitare, si poteris,
Strenuum pro virili
Libertatis Vindicatorem.
Obiit 19º Die Mensis Octobris
A.D. 1745 Anno Ætatis 78º.
The literal English translation (according to Wikipedia):
Here is laid the Body
of Jonathan Swift, Doctor of Sacred Theology,
Dean of this Cathedral Church,
where fierce Indignation
can no longer
injure the Heart.
Go forth, Voyager,
and copy, if you can,
this vigorous (to the best of his ability)
Champion of Liberty.
He died on the 19th Day of the Month of October,
A.D. 1745, in the 78th Year of his Age.
Yeats's version, known as Swift's Epitaph:
Swift has sailed into his rest;
Savage indignation there
Cannot lacerate his Breast.
Imitate him if you dare,
World-Besotted Traveller; he
Served human liberty.
Here's the Wikipedia link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swift's_Epitaph
Some More Famous Ones to Take Us Home
"THAT'S ALL FOLKS" - Mel Blanc (the voice actor behind Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and many other Warner Bros. characters) Link
“There goes the neighborhood.” - Rodney Dangerfield Link
