Famous Epitaphs
 

Written on August 18, 1954, a year before his death.


Here lies Saadat Hasan Manto. Within him lie
buried all the arts and mysteries of short story
writing. Under tons of earth he lies, wondering if
he is a greater short story writer than God.


Saadat Hasan Manto, from "Kingdom's End and Other Stories", published in 1987, by Verso.

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

Until suddenly he was shocked to see a tombstone that said:


Ernesto Sabato
Who wished to be buried in this ground
with a single word above his grave---
PEACE


Ernesto Sabato, from "The Angel of Darkness", published by Ballantine Books in 1991.

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

The Epitaph of John Keats (1795-1821):

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

I have to state the obvious one here.

"I am Providence"

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

Primo Levi's epitaph

174517

(his number at Auchwitz)

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

Jeramiah Johnson's epitaph

"I told you I was sick."

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

"Abrid esta tumba: al fondo se ve el mar"

(Open this grave: at the back the sea is seen)


Vicente Huidobro (1893-1948), Chilean poet.

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

Ludwig Boltzmann (by himself) - 1844-1906


"S = k log W"


The formula for entropy of a system. Boltzmann hanged himself during an attack of depression.

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

That is by far the saddest one I have ever read.

Re: Famous Epitaphs
 

"Near this spot
Are deposited the Remains of one
Who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
If inscribed over human ashes,
Is but a just tribute to the Memory of
BOATSWAIN, a Dog,
Who was born at Newfoundland, May, 1803,
And died at Newstead Abbey, Nov. 18, 1808."

(The poem "Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog" follows underneath this inscription)

Boatswain, Newfoundland Dog of G.G.N. Lord Byron