One last chance … to say what matters

We’ve always been fascinated by famous last words. Sometimes they’re foolish, at times oddly specific, and sometimes unforgettable. The rhythm-and-blues singer Johnny Ace reportedly said, “It’s okay! Gun’s not loaded … see?” It was, and he died instantly.

And writer Oscar Wilde, distressed by his cheap Paris hotel, reportedly remarked, “My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.”

Those lines make us shake our heads, but they also point to something deeper. When time runs out, the mask falls, and whatever mattered most often rises to the surface. Famous last words can offer a glimpse into what makes a life successful. 

✨3 Ideas

1. Love rises to the surface

People often talk about the people they loved when the end is near. Joe DiMaggio’s last words weren’t about baseball, but about Marilyn: “I finally get to see Marilyn.”

Again and again, love, not accomplishment, rises to the surface.

Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke of love too: his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his country. And in the final phone calls from 9/11, many messages were simply, “I love you.” Love isn’t only something the soul feels; it’s something we express.

2. Humor is resilience

Some last words are funny, even at the edge of life. And such humor can reveal a surprising kind of strength. As Buddy Rich was being prepared for surgery, he was asked, “Is that anything you can’t take?” He replied, “Yeah … country music.”

Lighthearted last words aren’t just jokes; they indicate an unbreakable spirit.

Humphrey Bogart supposedly quipped as his end neared, “I should have never switched from Scotch to martinis.” Humor doesn’t ease pain, but it helps us endure it.

3. Last words reveal true priorities

Some final words don’t just sound memorable. They reveal what a person lived for. Pavarotti said a life devoted to music is “an existence spent wonderfully,” and that’s what he devoted his life to. These weren’t random thoughts; they were a life’s summary.

The lesson is to choose what matters while we still can.

Da Vinci admitted, “I have offended God and mankind,” because he felt his work fell short of the quality it should have reached. Meaning comes from dedication, and greatness grows from our inner life.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

📜2 Quotes

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
— Proverbs 22:1

“It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?”
— Henry David Thoreau

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

❓1 Question

If your last words could express what you loved most, what would you say?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Famous last words can be foolish, funny, or full of meaning. But their real gift is this: They remind us that life is not endless, and that this awareness is a precious gift. 

Over the past year, Spiritual Sparks has grown into something larger. I’m now nearing the final stages of preparing a short book -- a curated reader shaped around the same themes of inner life, meaning, and everyday spirituality. I’m grateful for the encouragement along the way and will say more soon.

Until next time,
May you choose love while there is still time to express it. May you meet life’s challenges with courage, and sometimes even with humor. And may your days be shaped by what matters most, so that whenever your last words come, they will reflect a life well lived.

Rabbi Ze'ev Smason

P.S. If your life could be summed up in one line, what would it say? If you’d like to share, I’d be delighted to read your one line.

P.P.S. Enjoy these words? If so, please forward to a friend or send them a quick email