In praise of history's famous first words

Big Think

Center

Factuality

Ownership

In praise of history's famous first words

More instances of a dying person’s final utterances — their last words, called “famous” if the speaker is prominent or notable or the words themselves wry or ironic — are inscribed in the public record than any baby’s first words. As a counterbalance, let me suggest a few first words spoken by young humans that deserve to be better known, if not given pedestals in their own right because, in their way, they helped make our world. A good candidat…