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For Ten Years, I’ve Been Collecting Quotes From Strangers; Here Are 30 Of The Most Profound Ones
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
"We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are."
Collected in Indonesia.
Final score:
36points
RELATED:
#2
"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.
Final score:
26points
#3
"When in doubt, smile and nod."
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
22points
Russell Rieckenberg 1 year ago
And you will end up wearing a puffy shirt on television. "I don't wanna be a pirate."
#4
"To be alone is not loneliness, the trips you take alone have their own secrets."
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
21points
#5
"It´ll all be a memory one day."
(This was written on a rolling cigarette paper)
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
21points
#6
"Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots."
Collected in Belgium.
Final score:
20points
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
Do you ever think maybe the core of the earth is just a giant nucleus of tree roots?
#7
"Always leave things better than you found them."
Collected in Indonesia.
Final score:
20points
#8
"Cool things to believe in: magic, people + yourself."
Collected in Ireland.
Final score:
19points
#9
"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.
Final score:
19points
Michelle C 1 year ago
This is from Theodore Roosevelt’s speech on daring greatly and true strength.
#10
"Going with the flow, living in the flow."
Collected in South Korea.
Final score:
19points
#11
"Put out what you want back."
Collected in the Canary Islands.
Final score:
19points
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
Every time I see the words "Canary Islands" I hear it said in professor slughorn's voice
#12
"The joy is in the journey... Destination is a metaphor!"
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
18points
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
Yes!! The excitement and the build up make the actual event or destination feel almost as if it's a disappointment at times. ..
#13
"You do you!"
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
16points
#14
"Every achievement comes with the decision to try. And along the way with perseverance to keep going."
Collected in Portugal.
Final score:
16points
#15
"What you bring in your backpack, when you travel, is the weight of your fears."
Collected in Spain (Camino De Santiago).
Final score:
15points
#16
"Money is an illusion... The richest men in the world are the ones who’ve seen it."
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
14points
#17
"Never try, never know; everything is possible, but not so easy, so take it easy."
Collected in Indonesia.
Final score:
13points
#18
"Like all great travelers, I see more than I remember and remember more than I see."
Collected in India.
Final score:
13points
Penguin Panda Pop 1 year ago
I'm not entirely convinced that this means anything at all, but that's just me being all negative and shiz.
#19
"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.
Final score:
13points
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
I'm adopting this one as my next toast for all the parties I go to in my imagination
#20
"What is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?"
Collected in Belgium.
Final score:
13points
#21
"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.
Final score:
12points
#22
"The older I get, the smarter my father gets."
Collected in Greece.
Final score:
11points
#23
"Donde duele, inspira; great people make you achieve greatness."
(translated) "Where it hurts, it inspires."
Collected in Greece.
Final score:
11points
#24
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.
Final score:
11points
#25
"To travel alone, is to let the world tell you what to do."
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
10points
#26
"To old friends, new friends and forever friends."
Collected in Spain.
Final score:
9points
#27
"Life is a work of art, so seek the inspiration to create and make it matter!"
Collected in Belgium.
Final score:
9points
#28
"Truth is nothing. What you believe to be true is everything."
Collected in Indonesia.
Final score:
7points
#29
"We all share one hole, one whole."
Collected in Australia.
Final score:
6points
#30
"Live! Rest when you need, but you can sleep when you die."
Collected in Portugal.
Final score:
4points
A picture of me sharing some of the stories about the people that left me their quotes, during at Travel Story Telling Festival in Belgium
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What do you think ?
Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
This is just SO COOL!!!! I love books like this. Reminds me of Post Secret (book of secrets people sent the author on postcards) there's another one called Other People's Love Letters that I love to read and reread. I'm going to have to add this to my book collection I think this is the coolest thing I've seen on Bored Panda in awhile
Hassel Davidhoff 1 year ago
I love Post Secret too! Made me realize how truly emo my punk a**e is, lol.
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Nice Beast Ludo 1 year ago
This is just SO COOL!!!! I love books like this. Reminds me of Post Secret (book of secrets people sent the author on postcards) there's another one called Other People's Love Letters that I love to read and reread. I'm going to have to add this to my book collection I think this is the coolest thing I've seen on Bored Panda in awhile
Hassel Davidhoff 1 year ago
I love Post Secret too! Made me realize how truly emo my punk a**e is, lol.
Load More Replies... 
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