Last words (18 September 1830), quoted by his grandson, William Carew Hazlitt, in Memoirs of William Hazlitt (1867) vol. II, p. 238
“I feel that I've had a happy life, not a very useful life, but a happy one.”
Hartley Shawcross, Baron Shawcross (1902–2003) British politician
As quoted in his obituary in The Independent (11 July 2003) http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article36741.ece
“I've had a lot of unhappiness in my life — and a lot of happiness. Who doesn't?”
Rita Hayworth (1918–1987) American actress, dancer and director
AP reports, (1 November 1963)
Context: I've had a lot of unhappiness in my life — and a lot of happiness. Who doesn't? Maybe I've learned enough to be able to guide my daughters.
“As a day well spent procures a happy sleep, so a life well employed procures a happy death.”
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Renaissance polymath
The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (1883), XIX Philosophical Maxims. Morals. Polemics and Speculations.
“As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death.”
Leonardo Da Vinci (1452–1519) Italian Renaissance polymath
The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci (1938), I Philosophy
“I've been an idiot to think that real life could have a happy ending”
Jodi Picoult (1966) Author
Source: Between the Lines
“It's the nicest birthday I've ever had. You've made a happy man very old.”
Morrissey (1959) English singer
From Who Put The 'M' In Manchester? (2004)
In Concert
“Happiness is not a goal… it's a by-product of a life well lived.”
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American politician, diplomat, and activist, and First Lady of the United States
Variant: Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product.
Source: You Learn by Living (1960), p. 95
Context: Happiness is not a goal, it is a by-product. Paradoxically, the one sure way not to be happy is deliberately to map out a way of life in which one would please oneself completely and exclusively.
Rachel Hawthorne (1950) American author
Source: Surrender to the Devil
“The truth is, honey, I've enjoyed my life. I've had a hell of a good time.”
Ava Gardner (1922–1990) American actress
“Tell them I've had a wonderful life.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951) Austrian-British philosopher
Last words, to his doctor's wife (28 April 1951)–as quoted in Ludwig Wittgenstein : A Memoir (1966) by Norman Malcolm, p. 100
1930s-1951
