Back By Popular Demand, It's Famous Last Words!

[Robo4900]

At least that isn't Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which is a place in Wales.

[Prospero101]

Sorry for the late post today, folks! I put on my red cap and went a-jobhunting.

"June 3. Cold Harbor. I was killed." These words were found in the blood-spattered diary of an unnamed Union soldier on June 3, 1864 after the Battle of Cold Harbor.

[Prospero101]

The job hunt continues!

I'm leaning toward Literary Greats Month next. What do you guys think?

In the meantime, I leave you with Richard Feynman. "This dying is boring."

[Prospero101]

Well, for lack of a response, we ARE doing Literary Greats next and you WILL like it.

When Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's nurse told him, "You seem to be feeling better." Ibsen replied, "On the contrary."

Henrik Ibsen was perhaps the greatest playwright of the 19th Century, and is the second most-performed playwright in the world after Bill Shakespeare himself.

[Hepheastus]

Off topic here but if any of you find yourself in London and you can get tickets, go to the Globe theater and see some Shakespeare. It's spectacular and worlds different from anywhere else that does Shakespeare.

[Prospero101]

That seems like an exceptionally touristy thing to do, Heph.

[Robo4900]

The job hunt continues!

I'm leaning toward Literary Greats Month next. What do you guys think?

In the meantime, I leave you with Richard Feynman. "This dying is boring."

According to Wikipedia his last words were actually phrased like this: "I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring."

[Prospero101]

Well, most of the ones I don't know off the top of my head come from this book, so I guess variations will exist.

[My pseudonym is Ix]

Well, for lack of a response, we ARE doing Literary Greats next and you WILL like it.

When Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's nurse told him, "You seem to be feeling better." Ibsen replied, "On the contrary."

Henrik Ibsen was perhaps the greatest playwright of the 19th Century, and is the second most-performed playwright in the world after Bill Shakespeare himself.

Reminds me of a guy (don't know who, but he was famous) who was lying on his deathbed, eyes closed, when his doctor told his family that he was showing signs of improvement. He responded with 'On the contrary' and died several hours later.

[Prospero101]

It seems likely that that's a variation on the Ibsen story, Ix.

[My pseudonym is Ix]

Quite probably... I should probably dig out the book that's sitting literally two feet away, but I take my laziness seriously

[Prospero101]

Good old British (?) apathy right there. Good on you.

[Prospero101]

French Enlightenment writer Voltaire, when asked on his deathbed to repudiate the devil, said "I don't think this is a good time for me to be making enemies."

On a personal note, to this day Voltaire's Candide remains the funniest damn thing I have ever read.

[Hepheastus]

That seems like an exceptionally touristy thing to do, Heph.

You get to watch Shakespeare in an (recreation) Elizabethan theater, does it matter how touristy it is

Also Candide is may favorite work of Voltaire
"In this best of all possible worlds, everything is for the best"

*This message was edited to include punctuation*

[Prospero101]

Punctuation is your friend, Heph.

The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas said, "I've had eighteen straight whiskies. I believe that's the record!"

I can't stand poetry, but Dylan Thomas is probably the least offensive outside of blank verse or limericks.

[Master Gunner]

Challenge Accepted.

[Prospero101]

The great Southern writer William Faulkner had some unfortunately pedestrian last words. He said "Yes, Jim, I will." in a conversation with his brother-in-law about getting picked up from the hospital.

Terrible last words, right? Well, to make up for it, he did write what was perhaps the greatest resignation letter of all time. He resigned from the United States postal service in 1924, and he wrote the following letter: "As long as I live under the capitalistic system, I expect to be influenced by the demands of moneyed people. But I will be damned if I propose to be at the beck and call of every itinerant scoundrel who has two cents to invest in a postage stamp. This, sir, is my resignation."

Signed, William "Boss" Faulkner.

[Robo4900]

Wow. If I had a time machine, I'd love to meet this guy. XD

[Prospero101]

Spanish playwright Lope de Vega, referred to by some (not by me) as the "Spanish Shakespeare," when informed he was dying, said, "Alright, fine. I'll say it. Dante makes me sick."

[Prospero101]

James Joyce, appropriately enough, said, "Does nobody understand?"

No, nobody does understand, you overwrought puffed-up popinjay's excuse for a novelist.

[empath]

Um, I don't get what he meant; could you explain it for me?

[Prospero101]

Joyce reportedly said, after publishing Ulysses, that "This will keep teachers busy for decades."

[Prospero101]

Irish playwright Brendan Behan turned to a nun who was taking his blood and said, "Bless you, Sister. May all your sons be bishops."

Brendan Behan wrote in both English and Irish, one of very few writers to do so. He was deeply involved with the Irish republican movement and was in the IRA at a young age before going to jail and learning Irish. Most of his plays are autobiographical and/or advocate the republican movement. They're also really, really clever.

[Prospero101]

Sorry for the missed days, folks. I've been having a little trouble sleeping lately, and it's hard to summon the energy sometimes. But I'm back, and I'm just going to fire off three quick ones to make up for the gap.

Science fiction pioneer H. G. Wells said, "Go away. I'm alright." He was not.

Peter Pan author J. M. Barrie said, "I can't sleep." Oh, yes you can.

The brilliant playwright Eugene O'Neill said, "I knew it! Born in a hotel room and, dammit, dying in a hotel room!"

[My pseudonym is Ix]

Mr O'Neill sounds like someone with a pretty awesome sense of humour