In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes - Benjamin Franklin
✍️ Attribution
Written by Benjamin Franklin in a letter to French scientist Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, dated 13 November 1789: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
📒 Meaning
Franklin’s wry observation captures a universal truth: no matter how much circumstances change, two things remain inescapable — mortality and the obligation to pay taxes. It is frequently quoted to acknowledge the futility of resisting life’s few genuine guarantees.