A question on Reddit. Nimoy's last tweet was: "A life is like a garden, Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory." I don't see how you can call that "famous" when he just died. Would you remember that 10 years from now?
Among the answers: "The last tweet of that poor Notre Dame student who died on the scissor lift filming football practice was... 'Gust of wind up to 60mph ... I guess I've lived long enough.'" That's the other meaning of the phrase "famous last words." There, stress belongs on last, not famous. It's something a person who isn't planning to die says that, in retrospect, speaks to the circumstances of the death.
Another answer is Roger Ebert's "So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I'll see you at the movies." That's like Nimoy's. Someone who is planning to die frames an apt statement on the way out.
Let's not mix up the 2 kinds of famous last words. Or are there more than 2?
ADDED: The expression "famous last words" is most useful as something to say to a living person who has just said something that you're picturing could be something that is said right before doing something deadly.
AND: The fire extinguisher's empty. Get the hairspray!
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How is that last leaf doing?
Gen. George Custer: "Custer's luck! The biggest Indian Village on the Continent!"
"Let's go to Tijuana" brings back memories.
A category of their own.
I am Laslo.
"I took on 100 thousand protesters, now watch me take on these Islamist terrorists"
In keeping with the Indian theme, how many people yelled "Geronimo" as they jumped?
A month later on 17 March, Captain Oates, crippled with frostbite, walked out of the party's tent; it was his 32nd birthday. Scott immortalised the courageous army officer in his diary, writing that as he left he said:
"I am just going outside and may be some time."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwone/race_pole_01.shtml
"I took out Osama bin Laden, now watch me take out this Junior Varsity ISIL"
Famous last words from Union general "Uncle John" Sedgwick: "Why are you dodging like this? They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist ..."
Of course Walker just plans to use 100,000 Hellfire drones left over from Obama's private stash.
"Hold my beer and watch this!" is one of my favorites.
These Last Tweets are more like self composed epitaphs. Sort of like "I told you I was sick!"
"Hey I know — let's behead another 21 Egyptian Christians. What are they gonna do — elect Scott Walker?"
"Don't be such a worrier: he seems like a nice enough guy, and he's got a van."
I am Laslo.
I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.
~~ Humphrey Bogart
"Watch this !"
"'No' means 'No'".
I am Laslo.
"Let's leave this (sandwich) out and the bears will think of us as friends."
Obama foreign policy, simplified.
Nimoy's last tweet, like his recorded ode to Bilbo Baggins or "Alf," is interesting and sweet, at least as viewed by those (like me) who were fans of him in his "Mister Spock" role.
None of those things will be long remembered for their intrinsic beauty or merit on their own. If I'd read his last tweet out of context, I wouldn't have said, "Oh! How wise, my life is changed!" I would have thought, "Someone's quoting a reasonably tasteful Hallmark card." Knowing that it's Nimoy's last tweet also makes me say, "Well, that was appropriate."
Goethe tweeted "More light."
Thoreau tweeted "Moose," and then, "Indians."
Horatio Nelson tweeted "Kiss me, Hardy."
All of which made Peter deVries, in Vale of Laughter, recommend planning your last words and leaving them with a trusted friend in advance to report.
Most pilots tweet "Oh, shit," if you go by voice recorders.
"What's the big deal? I've had this erection now for over four hours and I feel fine.
Wait.
Oh my God, I am bleeding from my dick! Blood is pumping out of my dick and it won't stop!
Fuck -- there is blood everywhere, and my dick won't stop, it won't stop shooting out blood and -- shit --there is blood on the ceiling! This can't be good! I am feeling woozy..."
I am Laslo.
"I was Laslo"
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" were famous last words until the guy ruined it by coming to life again and talking a dozen or so other times.
True story: My wife was at an awards presentation in the Philippines decades ago. A man was receiving an award for his many charitable works. He said in his acceptance speech, "And now, I can die happy."
Immediately afterwards, he collapsed and died of a heart attack.
Not as good as "Here, hold my beer." and "Hey everybody, watch this!" but true just the same.
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani" were famous last words until the guy ruined it by coming to life again and talking a dozen or so other times.
"Here I thought Burr was not a straight shooter. My ba--"
"It is finished" is a favorite of Calvinists everywhere.
"French-Canadian bean soup." - Dutch Schultz
Andrew Breitbart's last tweet:
I called you a putz cause I thought you were being intentionally disingenuous. If not I apologize.
Famous last words are a dead art form. People die muffled and sedated in the ICU or the hospice. Not much chance to say anything memorable under such conditions.....A famous last tweet gives the individual a chance to get in the last word. I suspect it will become increasingly popular and not just among actors. Who wouldn't want to leave the stage with a memorable exit line? Bill Shatner is probably working right now with a team of writers to craft a final tweet that really. Nails it.
Hey, I'll just wolf down this ham sandwich and I'll be right with you.
Mama Cass
"These aren't muslim extremists, they just subverted religion for political reasons. My Jewishness will not be an issue at all!"
My great grandmother left off with a comment to a friend about the orange juice being particularly good.
Maybe the friend poisoned the orange juice!
Last tweet from Liz Taylor (I used it as a trivia question at the time of her death):
"My interview in Bazaar with Kim Kardashian came out!!!"
Now, was it really her tweeting? Sounds like something her publicist would type.
Is Nimoy's last tweet as sweet as Stonewall Jackson's last words?
"Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of those trees."
Someday I'll know what he saw. (Not that I'm in any rush, mind you.)
Bob Hope went for humor. On his deathbed he was asked where he wanted to be buried.
"Surprise me," he said.
I like Jame's Donald French's final words. He was in jail for killing a motorist who picked him up. After going to jail he appealed for the state to execute him. He then killed his cellmate to help expedite their decision. They ultimately agreed.
His final words were: ""How's this for a headline? 'French Fries'".
"Tell them I said something."
--Pancho Villa
"Vancouver! Vancouver This is it"
Donald Johnston was a geologist watching for the Mount St. Helena's eruption from a ridge a few miles distant. In those days they didn't know about pyroclastic flow - harder than steel, fast as a jet. When Mt. St. Helen's exploded, Johnston radioed: "Vancouver! Vancouver This is it" and disappeared. His body was never found. This is how they found out about the effects of pyroclastic flow. Geologists all know this story.
"Hey, y'all, watch this!"
"Where'd all the P-38s come fr..."
--Adm. Yamamoto
Abraham Lincoln's last tweet was "Don't believe everything you read on the Internet."
"Alas, I'm dying beyond my means."
-------Oscar Wilde while sipping champagne.
rehardin@10:52am/
No, it's "AW shit."
Big Mike@10:07am/
Beat me to it! FIRST thing I thought of, lol..
Mehr Licht!
Goethe
Pyroclastic flows have been known and understood since at least the beginning of the 20th Century. http://volcanology.geol.ucsb.edu/pfs.htm
Words spoken just prior to famous last words:
"Does this dress make me look fat?"
Blogger William said...
... Bill Shatner is probably working right now with a team of writers to craft a final tweet that really. Nails it.
2/28/15, 11:55 AM
If it isn't:
Goooooooonnnnnnneeeeee!!!
I shall be severely disappointed.
"Jeanette and I headed to the club. Car broke down. :( Gotta ride w/ a guy named Laslo. :)"
Did Mr Rogers ever use Twitter? NPR did broadcast, yesterday evening at the end of News Hour, an audio recording of him delivering one of his comfortable homilies-- wasn't paying much attention but 'recorded to be broadcast X number of years after his death', I believe I heard.
Did he already bequeath 'last words'? Surely if he did they aren't famous but, who knows, there may be others yet to come, and one of them might become famous. 'Famous words post mortem'?
"I think I'll just wash up on shore."
- Natalie Wood
Yeah, I'm the guy thats been nailing your 14 yr old daughter....
They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance.
The last words of Union General John Sedgwick, spoken at Spotsylvania, his men being harassed by Confederate sharpshooters. Makes me appreciate that one of my great uncles, James Stokes, wasn't hit when harassed by sharpshooters. He commanded the Illinois Board of Trade Battery (artillery).
"Hand me the tweezers. I think there's something stuck in this outlet."
"Where's the charger? I'm working on my novel in the bath, and the laptop battery's run out."
"Flip on the light. There's something caught here in the disposal."
I've always liked Augustus Caesar's: Acta est fabula, plaudite!
Screw you guys I'm going home!
Che's last words were something like: "I'm worth more to you alive!"
Sometimes the last words are hard to decipher because the pillow muffles the sound.
I am Laslo.
Beware of a guy in a van who wants to show you his Special Pillow of Secrets.
Of course, by that time you are probably already bound and gagged so it might be a little late.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: what stories it could tell.
Through DNA, mostly.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: it is a veritable Shroud of Turin of smeared lipstick and mascara.
There is also a small tear in the fabric: tongue piercing, most likely.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: if only Grandma knew what her needlepoint Christmas gift has done.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: sure, you suffocate just one stripper but then it smells like tanning lotion forever.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: yes, it has herpes, but that is the least of your problems.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: Grandma, can't you see I am crying out for Help?
Alas, Grandma's mummified body hears nothing.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: Grandma, you needlepointed the 'O' in LOVE as a heart. It is a nice touch, but it fills me with Hatred.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: Grandma, you knew that incident with Mother wasn't an accident all along, didn't you. I never properly thanked you for lying to the authorities for me: please accept the young women I send you as my way to make amends.
I hope they are taking turns rubbing your feet in Heaven: you deserve that.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: Grandma, remember how we used to sit on the couch beneath the blanket you knitted and watch episodes of "The Golden Girls" together? And I told you how I wanted to rape and kill them?
I have many fond memories like that.
I am Laslo.
The Special Pillow of Secrets: Grandma, I drive my van at night and I can't help how many girls look like a young Bea Arthur. It is out of my control.
I am Laslo.
...Like tears
in rain.
-Roy Batty, Nexus-6
I'm not a robot. But he was...well...
"They make good wine here"
James Joyce.
Here,hold my beer.
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