Business & Tech · 20th Century

Sigmund Freud’s Last Words

May 6, 1856 September 23, 1939 Age 83 Austrian
My dear Schur, you certainly remember our first talk. You promised me then not to forsake me when my time comes. Now it's nothing but torture and makes no sense anymore.
— Sigmund Freud, September 23, 1939

Who Was Sigmund Freud?

Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis and revolutionized the understanding of the human mind with concepts like the unconscious, ego, and Oedipus complex.

The Final Moments

Freud fled Nazi-occupied Vienna to London. Suffering from oral cancer after years of cigar smoking, he asked his physician Max Schur to end his suffering with morphine, which Schur administered.

Are These Words Verified?

✓ High Confidence

Dr. Max Schur documented these words in his detailed memoir, confirmed by Anna Freud. The euthanasia agreement and morphine administration are well-documented historical facts.

Sources

  • firsthand Max Schur memoir 'Freud: Living and Dying'
  • firsthand Anna Freud confirmation
  • academic Peter Gay biography

Legacy

Freud's influence on psychology, art, literature, and culture remains enormous despite much of his theory being superseded by modern neuroscience.

psychoanalysisunconsciousViennapsychology

Frequently Asked Questions

What were Sigmund Freud’s last words?

“My dear Schur, you certainly remember our first talk. You promised me then not to forsake me when my time comes. Now it's nothing but torture and makes no sense anymore.”

How did Sigmund Freud die?

Sigmund Freud died on September 23, 1939 at the age of 83. Cause of death: Physician-assisted suicide (morphine overdose).

Were Sigmund Freud’s last words documented?

Dr. Max Schur documented these words in his detailed memoir, confirmed by Anna Freud. The euthanasia agreement and morphine administration are well-documented historical facts.