I didn't have to look it up because I was taught about the American Revolution in grade school in the fifties.

Actually, the most commonly used last words of Nathan Hale are not the ones mentioned above:

Scroll down for Nathan Hale.....

http://www.corsinet.com/braincandy/dying2.html

It is the duty of every good officer to obey any orders given him by his commander-in-chief.
(Actual)
Shot by British as a spy.
~~ Nathan Hale, American hero, d. 1776

I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.
(Attributed)
~~ Nathan Hale

I wonder if the Nathan Hale quote was inspired by Caligula who is alleged to have said, "If only all Rome had just one neck."

Bob1Dog, I realise you were cutting and pasting, but it should be noted that Nathan Hale hung by the British - not shot as your post says.

His life story summarized here:

http://www.connecticutsar.org/patriots/hale_nathan.htm

A nice discussion of Nathan Hale's last (attributed) words is available on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Hale#Impact

I don't know, but see the wikipedia article I posted. "If Hale did not give the famous quote, it is possible he instead repeated a passage from Joseph Addison's play, Cato" ... so there certainly may have been some Roman influence in there one way or another.

Nothing like this line appears in Addison's Cato. The word "neck" shows up once:



Caligula was born some 60 years after Cato's death.

But I'm probably just being pedantic here.

Yes, you are. Please note I never said he was inspired by Caligula ... I said _some_ Roman influence one way or another, citing Cato as a particular additional possibility.

:)

Balducci, surely you know the routines of cut and paste; I was merley doing what y'all do, making swift of it. And I did provide the source of the two quotes. If you didn't read the link, you might find it interesting. And if you disagree you can question those sources, not me.

As to Hale's being shot, that seems to be another version; as I was also taught in grade school that he was hung. I'll just respond that in the following two links you will find references to the fact that there are two versions of Hale's last words. In the Diary of Frederick Mackensie, an eyewitness to the execution he mentions that Hale did have some brave last words, but no evidence was offered of the one most attributed. Nor is there any other eye witness account offering those famous last words.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_Nath......st_words
http://www.thisdayinquotes.com/2010/09/n......ret.html

So choose your source. I was merely attemtpting to provide an interesting twist to the discussion but alas, the arrows came, as I knew they would.

Now you may parse this to kingdom come, but I'll move on to other famous last words in this thread. I am finished with Nathan Hale.

Sorry, make that hanged.

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Jesus Christ