Thus I discharged two duties, those of friend and judge yet I feel in my conscience something which makes me doubt whether my conduct was not criminal." : 131–132 - Chilon of Sparta, philosopher (6th century BCE), speaking to his friends before his death "It is better to perish here than to kill all these poor beans." : 130 - Pythagoras, Ionian Greek philosopher and founder of Pythagoreanism (495 BCE), refusing to escape with his students from the Crotonians through a fava bean field I delivered with such address all the most plausible arguments in behalf of the accused, that my two colleagues found no difficulty in acquitting him, and yet I, myself, condemned him to death without assigning any reason for my conduct. After careful consideration, I devised this expedient. One of two things was inevitable-either to violate the law or condemn my friend. "On a certain occasion, I chanced to be one of three who sat in judgment on one of my own good friends, who, according to the laws, should have been punished with death. 1012 BCE), to his servant during the Battle of Mount Gilboa "My reputation carried me safe through Greece, but the envy it excited at home has been my ruin." - Anacharsis, Scythian philosopher (6th century BCE), mortally wounded with an arrow by his brother, King Caduidas "You know that during the long time I have been in the world, I have said and done many things upon mature reflection, I find nothing of which I have cause to repent, excepting a case which I will now submit to your decision, that I may know whether I have acted properly or not. In Western culture particular attention has been paid to last words which demonstrate deathbed salvation – the repentance of sins and affirmation of faith. There is a tradition in Hindu and Buddhist cultures of an expectation of a meaningful farewell statement Zen monks by long custom are expected to compose a poem on the spot and recite it with their last breath. īoth Eastern and Western cultural traditions ascribe special significance to words uttered at or near death, but the form and content of reported last words may depend on cultural context.
However, the putative witness had not been at Darwin's deathbed or seen him at any time near the end of his life. This widely disseminated report served the interests of those who opposed Darwin's theory on religious grounds.
Ĭharles Darwin, for example, was reported to have disavowed his theory of evolution in favor of traditional religious faith at his death. Even if reported wrongly, putative last words can constitute an important part of the perceived historical records (according to Robin Winks, "history is what people believe to be true") or demonstration of cultural attitudes toward death at the time. Reasons can include simple error or deliberate intent.
Last words may be recorded accurately, or, for a variety of reasons, may not. (People dying of illness are frequently inarticulate at the end, and in such cases their actual last utterances may not be recorded or considered very important.) Often they are recorded because of the decedent's fame, but sometimes because of interest in the statement itself. Last words or final words are a person's final articulated words, stated prior to death or as death approaches. In his last words, Caesar allegedly exclaimed over the fact that his friend and relative Brutus took part in his murder. Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of rivals.
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