“I’ve never felt better.” — Douglas Fairbanks.

“Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.” — Oscar Wilde (1854—1900), Irish-born British dramatist. As he lay dying in a drab Paris bedroom.

“Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something…” — Pancho Villa (1877—1923) clutching a comrade.

“Oh my, it’s very beautiful over there.” — Thomas Edison (1847—1931).

“My work is done. Why wait ?” — George Eastman (1854—1932), US inventor and industrialist, suicide note.

“If this is dying, I don’t think much of it.” — Lytton Strachey (1880—1932), British writer.

“Die ? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such a conventional thing to happen to him.” — John Barrymore (1882—1942), US actor.

“Shoot me in the chest !” — Benito Mussolini ( -1944).

“Go away… I’m alright.” — H. G. Wells (1866—1946).

“I have spent a lot of time searching through the Bible for loopholes.” — W. C. Fields (1880—1946), US comedian. Said during his last illness.

“Seventeen whiskeys. A record, I think.” — Dylan Thomas (1914-53), Welsh poet.

“I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.” — Humphrey Bogart (1899—1957).

“God bless… God damn.” — James Thurber (1894—1961), US humorist.

“I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter.” — Winston Churchill (1874—1965).

“Damn it… Don’t you dare ask God to help me.” — Joan Crawford ( -77), actress, to her housekeeper who had begun to pray aloud.

“Why yes — a bulletproof vest.” — James Rodges, murderer, on his final request before the firing squad.

“I did not get my Spaghetti-O’s, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.” — Thomas J. Grasso, executed 1995.

“Hey guys, watch this !” — Todd Poller (2001), who tried to swallow a live perch.