Benjamin Franklin Quotes About Taxes

• Taxes are indeed very heavy -
  We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness.
  Three times as much by our Pride.
  And four times as much by our Folly.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Pride, Three, Taxation

  Benjamin Franklin, William-Temple Franklin (1818). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of (the Same), Continued to the Time of His Death by William Temple Franklin. - London, H. Colburn 1818”, p.248

• It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one tenth part.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Libertarian Party, Government, People

  Benjamin Franklin, William Temple Franklin (1819). “Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Benjamin Franklin...: Posthumous and other writings”, p.111

• Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and governments.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Kings, 4th Of July, Pride

  Mark Skousen, Benjamin Franklin (2005). “The Compleated Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”, p.37, Regnery Publishing

• In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Death, Money, Business

  Letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 13 Nov. 1789

• Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Funny, Death, 4th Of July

• Friends and neighbors complain that taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might the more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Friendship, Pride, Government

• Taxes on consumption, like those on capital or income, to be just, must be uniform.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Income, Uniforms, Taxes

• Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Death, 4th Of July, Promise

  Letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 13 Nov. 1789

• The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Certainty, Taxes

• Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains without pains. He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an office of profit and honor; but then the trade must be worked at and the calling followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious, we shall never starve; for at the workingman's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for industry pays debts, while idleness and neglect increase them.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Life, Pain, Office

• Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments. If we can get rid of the former, we may easily bear the latter.

  Benjamin Franklin

  Kings, 4th Of July, Pride

  Benjamin Franklin (2010). “Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography & Selected Writings”, p.64, American Liberty Press

• The only certain things in life are death and taxes!

  Benjamin Franklin

  Things In Life, Certain, Taxes

• But in this world nothing is sure but death and taxes.
  [Fr., Mais dons ce monde, il n'y a rien d'assure que le mort et les impots.]

  Benjamin Franklin

  World, This World, Taxes

• We are not certain, we are never certain. If we were we could reach some conclusions, and we could, at last, make others take us seriously.
  In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  World, Lasts, Said

  Letter to Jean Baptiste Le Roy, 13 November 1789

• Nothing in the world is certain except for death and taxes.

  Benjamin Franklin

  World, Certain, Taxes

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