I started collecting handwritten quotes from strangers while solo traveling because I always felt more at ease connecting with people abroad and seeing the little pieces of wisdom they carried. I asked them, "What would your famous last words be?"—and this was the result.

Over 10 years, these quotes have turned into something much bigger: a collection of amazing words and stories that I finally put together into a book called Last Words for the Road. I made two editions—a pocket version (90 pages) and a premium version (360 pages). They’re filled with the best quotes, plus essays and illustrations I’ve added along the way.

I’m still collecting quotes now—people even send them to me through a Google form! This whole project has been such a personal journey, and I’m so excited to share it with you.

So, what famous last words would you leave me?

More info: Instagram | amazon.com

Just a preview of the last version of the book - It took 10 years to make, but I never gave up! And the picture on the right, where I played around with printing quotes on tiles. What do you think?

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

"We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #2

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #3

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "When in doubt, smile and nod." Collected in Spain.

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    #4

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "It´ll all be a memory one day." (This was written on a rolling cigarette paper) Collected in Spain.

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    #5

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots." Collected in Belgium.

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    #6

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Cool things to believe in: magic, people + yourself." Collected in Ireland.

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    #7

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "To be alone is not loneliness, the trips you take alone have their own secrets." Collected in Spain.

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    #8

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "For better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy, nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." Collected in Romania.

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    #9

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Going with the flow, living in the flow." Collected in South Korea.

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    #10

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Put out what you want back." Collected in the Canary Islands.

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    #11

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Always leave things better than you found them." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #12

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "The joy is in the journey... Destination is a metaphor!" Collected in Spain.

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    #13

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "You do you!" Collected in Spain.

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    #14

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Every achievement comes with the decision to try. And along the way with perseverance to keep going." Collected in Portugal.

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    #15

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "What you bring in your backpack, when you travel, is the weight of your fears." Collected in Spain (Camino De Santiago).

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    #16

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Money is an illusion... The richest men in the world are the ones who’ve seen it." Collected in Spain.

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    #17

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Never try, never know; everything is possible, but not so easy, so take it easy." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #18

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Like all great travelers, I see more than I remember and remember more than I see." Collected in India.

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    #19

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "4 rules of life: steal, cheat, lie, drink." Steal: Steal time to help others. Cheat: Cheat death by living life to the fullest. Lie: Lie down next to the ones you love. Drink: Drink in the moments that take your breath away. Collected in Spain.

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    #20

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "No matter wherever you are in life, you always have the power to move in the directions you wish to be. Never give up on a dream." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #21

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "The older I get, the smarter my father gets." Collected in Greece.

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    #22

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Donde duele, inspira; great people make you achieve greatness." (translated) "Where it hurts, it inspires." Collected in Greece.

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    #23

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    Life’s beautiful. Keep it simple! Love’s everywhere. Don’t be shy, talk and say what you feel! Say nice things to others. Live life" Collected in Portugal.

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    #24

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "To travel alone, is to let the world tell you what to do." Collected in Spain.

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    #25

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "To old friends, new friends and forever friends." Collected in Spain.

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    #26

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Life is a work of art, so seek the inspiration to create and make it matter!" Collected in Belgium.

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    #27

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "Truth is nothing. What you believe to be true is everything." Collected in Indonesia.

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    #28

    For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones

    "We all share one hole, one whole." Collected in Australia.

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