Last words or final words are a person's final articulated words said prior to death or as death approaches. Quotations of last words may not be the words spoken immediately before death, as these tend to reflect the mode of death. Last words may not be written down and accurately recorded, and they may not be quoted accurately for a variety of reasons.

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  • Last words or final words are a person's final articulated words said prior to death or as death approaches. Quotations of last words may not be the words spoken immediately before death, as these tend to reflect the mode of death. Last words may not be written down and accurately recorded, and they may not be quoted accurately for a variety of reasons. Famous last words include the sayings of Jesus on the cross, "Et tu, Brute?" from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and Oscar Wilde's "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do. " In both the literal sense, and the ironical sense of words said in confidence before a disaster, General John Sedgwick's famous last words at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House were "They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist-" (he never finished the word distance). Last words may be deliberately misquoted in official records, or family members may enhance or create last words in order to further the reputation of the deceased. For example, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson's last words were probably "Drink, drink. Fan, fan. Rub, rub", but he is remembered for his earlier "Kiss me Hardy" words when mortally wounded; and George V's last words were reputedly "Bugger Bognor", but official records reported that he was inquiring about the British Empire.
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  • Last words or final words are a person's final articulated words said prior to death or as death approaches. Quotations of last words may not be the words spoken immediately before death, as these tend to reflect the mode of death. Last words may not be written down and accurately recorded, and they may not be quoted accurately for a variety of reasons.
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  • Last words
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