Real-world examples of people making quips in face of death?

[Shodan]

@hajario

That was a line from a movie that he quoted.

I don’t have a cite, and Reagan quoted a lot of movies, but I thought he stole the line from Jack Dempsey, the heavyweight champion. Dempsey had just lost to Gene Tunney in a major upset. Dempsey’s wife called him “Ginsberg” for some reason, and she asked, “Ginsberg, what happened?” Dempsey replied “I guess I forgot to duck”.

Another alleged boxer quote in the face of death -

@Max Baer

“Do you want the house doctor?”

“No, dummy, I want the people doctor!”

Regards,
Shodan

[mbh]

Henry Paget, Earl of Uxbridge (later Marquess of Anglesey)

from Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey - Wikipedia

During the Hundred Days he was appointed cavalry commander in Belgium, under the still resentful eye of Wellington.[16] He fought at the Battle of Quatre Bras on 16 June 1815 and at the Battle of Waterloo two days later, when he led the spectacular charge of the British heavy cavalry against Comte d’Erlon’s column which checked and in part routed the French Army.[20]

One of the last cannon shots fired that day hit Paget in the right leg, necessitating its amputation.[16] According to anecdote, he was close to Wellington when his leg was hit, and exclaimed, “By God, sir, I’ve lost my leg!” — to which Wellington replied, “By God, sir, so you have!”[21] According to his aide-de-camp, Thomas Wildman, during the amputation Paget smiled and said, “I have had a pretty long run. I have been a beau these 47 years and it would not be fair to cut the young men out any longer.”[21] While Paget had an articulated artificial limb fitted, his amputated leg meanwhile had a somewhat macabre after-life as a tourist attraction in the village of Waterloo in Belgium, to which it had been removed and where it was later interred.[22]

[CalMeacham]

Sir Thomas More on his way to his execution by beheading, from a contemporary account:

When he came to the Scaffold, it seemed ready to fall, whereupon he said merrily to the Lieutenant, Pray, Sir, see me safe up; and as to my coming down, let me shift for myself.

And a little later:

Laying his Head upon the Block, he bid the Executioner stay till he had put his Beard aside, for that had committed no Treason.

The Execution of Sir Thomas More - The Anne Boleyn Files

[Son_of_a_Rich]

At the guillotine, Georges Jacques Danton said “Show my head to the people, it is worth seeing”.

[That_Don_Guy]

@Dewey_Finn

Nathan Hale’s supposed last words were also memorable, if not a quip, “My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country.”

I am under the impression that his actual last words were something like, “It is the duty of every officer to obey the orders of his Commander-in-Chief.”

And I remember a MAD Magazine cartoon where, when Hale made his “one life” remark, the British soldiers about to hang him responded, “Every little bit helps!”

[smithsb]

Nike’s famous slogan, “Just Do It,” was inspired by the last words of Gary Gilmore, a murderer on death row. Gilmore’s last words were, “Let’s do it”. Might be incorrect but I’m leading with it.

Also from Gilmore, "At the time, Utah had two methods of execution — firing squad or hanging. Believing a hanging could be botched, Gilmore chose the former, declaring, “I’d prefer to be shot.” "

[aldiboronti]

@Jim_s_Son

According to Plutarch, Julius Caesar was captured by Cilician pirates in 75 B.C. and held for ransom. When told they were asking 20 talents, Caesar said it was too low; ask for 50. He joined their games as if he was their leader. He composed speeches and poetry that he read to them and if they didn’t like it, he told them they were ignorant. He told them that when he was freed, he would have them crucified. They laughed but after 38 days the ransom was paid and Caesar released. Although he was a private citizen, Caesar quickly raised an army, captured the pirates who didn’t take his warning seriously and recovered the 50 talents of silver. Caesar had the pirates crucified instead of sold into slavery but in an act of kindness slit their throats instead.
When Julius Caesar Was Kidnapped By Pirates, He Demanded They Increase His Ransom | Mental Floss

Caesar was all heart! And speaking of Romans, in the next century, when it became common to deify Emperors after their death, the Emperor Vespasian, old and dying, remarked, “Oh dear, I think I’m becoming a god!”

[terentii]

Captain John Paul Jones, USN, when ordered to surrender the Bonne Homme Richard to the British during the American Revolution:

“I have not yet begun to fight!”

Commander Oliver Hazard Perry, USN, during the Battle of the Great Lakes in the US War of 1812:

“Don’t give up the ship!”

Admiral David Farragut, USN, during the Battle of Mobile Bay in the American Civil War:

“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

Commodore George Dewey, USN, during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish–American War:

“You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

LT (JG) John F Kennedy, USN, telling his crew they’d have to swim to an island after the Japanese rammed his PT boat in WWII:

“Don’t worry. It’s only three inches on the map.”

[John_Bredin]

@terentii

Commodore George Dewey, USN, during the Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish–American War:

“You may fire when ready, Gridley.”

Unless one is arguing that entering battle is always the “face of death” I don’t see how this counts. The U.S./Dewey won Manila Bay handily. Also, ordering that the fleet open fire is IMHO insufficiently quippy.

[terentii]

@John_Bredin

Unless one is arguing that entering battle is always the “face of death” I don’t see how this counts. The U.S./Dewey won Manila Bay handily. Also, ordering that the fleet open fire is IMHO insufficiently quippy.

“Open fire!” or “Fire at will!” would not be quippy.

“You may fire when ready, Gridley” makes him sound like he’s playing a round of golf on a Sunday morning.

[terentii]

@John_Bredin

Unless one is arguing that entering battle is always the “face of death” I don’t see how this counts.

In every battle I’ve ever heard about, a lot of people died. So yeah, I’d say it is looking at the face of death, no matter how unevenly you and your opponent are matched.

Custer charged into battle thinking he had the advantage until reality caught up with him. Few things are as sure as they seem.

[terentii]

My favorite is actually the exchange between the Earl of Uxbridge and the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo:

“By God, sir, I’ve lost my leg!”

“Yes, I believe you have.”

I know it’s probably apocryphal, but I still love it!

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@terentii

My favorite is actually the exchange between the Earl of Uxbridge and the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo:

“By God, sir, I’ve lost my leg!”

“Yes, I believe you have.”

I know it’s probably apocryphal, but I still love it!

See post 42.

Hugh Latimer, Bishop of Winchester, burned at the stake as a Protestant martyr, said to another cleric being burned with him, “Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle in England, as I hope, by God’s grace, shall never be put out.”

[running_coach]

Anonymous British Captain in the days of wind and sail.
“Bring me my brown pants.”

[Loach]

Here is a thread I started asking a similar question with a lot of overlap.

[JKellyMap]

@Loach

Here is a thread I started asking a similar question with a lot of overlap.

Australopithecus (missing link).

[Loach]

@JKellyMap

Australopithecus (missing link).

Action hero quotes, in real life.

[rowrrbazzle]

Frederick Charles Wood, serial killer http://www.executedtoday.com/2014/03/21/1963-frederick-charles-wood-let-me-burn/

As he stood in the death chamber waiting to be strapped into the electric chair, he grinned at the witnesses and said, “Gents, this is an educational project. You are about to witness the damaging effect electricity has on Wood. Enjoy yourselves.”

From the same link, while awaiting execution:

He wrote that he wanted to “ride the lighting without further delay,” and added, “I do not welcome any intrusion into this stinking case of mine.”

Although Wood claimed he had schizophrenia and requested electroconvulsive therapy, three psychiatrists found him sane. A member of the Lunacy Commission asked him, “Is there any way we can help you?” Wood replied, “Let me burn.”

[smithsb]

Uttered by far too many, “Hold my beer and watch this.”

[Meurglys]

I am just going outside. I may be some time.

Captain Oates, one of Captain Scott’s colleagues on their ill-fated 1911/12 Antarctic expedition, before his death in 1912, 19 days before the others in the expedition.