Who is known for the famous quotation (translated from the original French) "In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes"?
In a letter to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Leroy on November 13, 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote (translated from the original French) concerning the US Constitution “Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”
Franklin wasn’t the first person to write something about the inevitability of death and taxes. For example, in 1726, Daniel Defoe wrote in his book The Political History of the Devil: “Things as certain as death and taxes can be more firmly believed.” However, Franklin’s formulation is clearly the best known.
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What are your thoughts on this subject?
31 Comments
Warren Price
But death doesn't get worse every time the legislature meets.
Emm Yo
It was a French man. Coral Harvey,
Emm Yo
He is not the origin of that phrase.
Ron Gosling
Lynne Zeman, he spent alot of time in France
earlepg
LeeAnne Worre Risk, It still happens.
Coral Harvey
I thought it was Dr Johnson !
binnybtb
Lynne Zeman, I think he was being facetious.
Lynne Zeman
The only thing we truely have to do is die. We can decide not to pay taxes if we can accept the possible consequences. Taxes are a option. Death is not.
Lynne Zeman
I was quite sure it was Franklin, but the "translated from French" threw me off.
skullfire
Christopher Bullock, 1716.
Yvonne C. Wood
I knew this heard it said many times
Ed Taber
He also said, "...if they let us keep it." He was, unfortunately, prescience.
Carroll Price
Not durable at all. Lasted only 85 years - from 1776 to 1861.
karen twirly
LeeAnne Worre Risk, Yes when I accidently double tap next question.
Peter Robertson
Yes Franklin was a great man,but like Kennedy's "the road to war is paved with good intentions" it is paraphrased from someone else's original!
Kitty White
Great man.