List of last words

(People dying of illness are frequently inarticulate at the end,[1] and in such cases their actual last utterances may not be recorded or considered very important.)

Even if reported wrongly, putative last words can constitute an important part of the perceived historical records[2] or demonstration of cultural attitudes toward death at the time.

[1] Charles Darwin, for example, was reported to have disavowed his theory of evolution in favor of traditional religious faith at his death.

This widely disseminated report served the interests of those who opposed Darwin's theory on religious grounds.

In Western culture particular attention has been paid to last words which demonstrate deathbed salvation – the repentance of sins and affirmation of faith.