End of Life Reflections Quotes

Meriwether Lewis's last words were, 'I am not a coward, but I am so strong. So hard to die.' I don't doubt that it is, but it cannot be much harder than being left behind.

Many men on the point of an edifying death would be furious if they were suddenly restored to health.

If I were a maker of books I should compile a register, with comments, of different deaths. He who should teach people to die, would teach them to live.

Most of us fear reaching the end of our life regretting moments when we didn't speak up, say I love you, or say I'm sorry.

In all my years of counselling those near death, I've yet to hear anyone say they wish they had spent more time at the office

Before I write, I like to read obits in 'The Times' because they're well written, and I like the little details. It gets the energy going in the morning. I really like the obits of old Hollywood actors and actresses.

It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives.

Believe me, those great death bed speeches are written ahead of time.

For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her life she had taken a 'fiancé,' why she had played at beginning again. Even there, in that home where lives were fading out, evening was a kind of wistful respite. So close to death, Maman must have felt free then and ready to live it all again. Nobody, nobody had the right to cry over her. And I felt ready to live it all again too.