--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only things of certainty are Death…" description: "\"The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.\" — Benjamin Franklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png" --- # The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes. ![“The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.” quote by Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png) > “The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.” [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Death and taxes are the only inevitable aspects of life, highlighting the certainty of mortality and civic duty. **In simple terms:** Death and taxes are inevitable. Key Takeaway Plan for inevitable obligations. Themes mortality economics inevitability Mood reflective serious Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - retirement planning - budgeting - estate planning Key Concepts philosophy public policy finance Questions to Reflect On - How do you prepare for life's certainties? - What can we learn from accepting inevitability? A Different Perspective Other uncertainties can also be certain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death and taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-and-taxes/) [Death Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-taxes/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-this-world-nothing-can-be-said-to-be-certain-except-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Nothing in the world is certain except for death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/nothing-in-the-world-is-certain-except-for-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-this-world-nothing-is-certain-but-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The only certain things in life are death and taxes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-certain-things-in-life-are-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-in-this-world-nothing-is-sure-but-death-and-taxes-fr-mais-dons-ce/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Our Constitution is in actual operation; everything appears to promise that it will last; but in this world nothing is certain but death and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/our-constitution-is-in-actual-operation-everything-appears-to-promise/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/certainty-in-this-world-nothing-is-certain-but-death-and-taxes/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“...but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-in-this-world-nothing-can-be-said-to-be-certain-except-death-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [That though we are certain ofmany things, yet that Certainty is no absolute Infallibility, there still remainsthe possibility of our being mistaken in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-glanvill/that-though-we-are-certain-ofmany-things-yet-that-certainty-is-no/) [Joseph Glanvill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-glanvill/) > [The only 2 things guaranteed in this life are death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-2-things-guaranteed-in-this-life-are-death-and-taxes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but death and taxes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bullock/tis-impossible-to-be-sure-of-any-thing-but-death-and-taxes/) Christopher Bullock > [“Nothing is certain but death and taxes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lynn-barnes/nothing-is-certain-but-death-and-taxes/) [Jennifer Lynn Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lynn-barnes/) > [The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-difference-between-death-and-taxes-is-death-doesn-t-get-worse/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [“They say that nothing is certain but death and taxes, and I already screwed one of those up, so I better pay my taxes…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-alexander-sims/they-say-that-nothing-is-certain-but-death-and-taxes-and-i-already/) Edmund Alexander Sims > [Apart from death and taxes, the one thing that's certain in this life is that I'll never be a fashion icon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-dickinson/apart-from-death-and-taxes-the-one-thing-that-s-certain-in-this-life/) [Bruce Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-dickinson/) ## More by Benjamin Franklin > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/give-me-26-lead-soldiers-and-i-will-conquer-the-world/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Flowers are the alphabet of angels, whereby they write on the hills and fields mysterious truths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/flowers-are-the-alphabet-of-angels-whereby-they-write-on-the-hills/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In the affairs of this world, men are saved not by faith, but by the want of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/in-the-affairs-of-this-world-men-are-saved-not-by-faith-but-by-the/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I have thought that wild flowers might be the alphabet of angels, — whereby they write on hills and fields mysterious truths, which it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-have-thought-that-wild-flowers-might-be-the-alphabet-of-angels/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [How do you become better tomorrow? By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/how-do-you-become-better-tomorrow-by-improving-yourself-the-world-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Little leaks sink the ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/little-leaks-sink-the-ship/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Who is rich? He that is content. Who is that? Nobody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/who-is-rich-he-that-is-content-who-is-that-nobody/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“But on the whole, though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/but-on-the-whole-though-i-never-arrived-at-the-perfection-i-had-been/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The good particular men may do separately, in relieving the sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-good-particular-men-may-do-separately-in-relieving-the-sick-is/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Love your Neighbour; yet don't pull down your Hedge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/love-your-neighbour-yet-don-t-pull-down-your-hedge/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/take-counsel-in-wine-but-resolve-afterwards-in-water/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [He that's secure is not safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-s-secure-is-not-safe/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) [Explore all 1,692 Benjamin Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) ## More Certainty quotes > [A common fallacy in much of the adverse criticism to which science is subjected today is that it claims certainty, infallibility and complete emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/a-common-fallacy-in-much-of-the-adverse-criticism-to-which-science-is/) [Cyril Norman Hinshelwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyril-norman-hinshelwood/) > [Sometimes we have the absolute certainty there's something inside us that's so hideous and monstrous that if we ever search it out we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-selby-jr/sometimes-we-have-the-absolute-certainty-there-s-something-inside-us/) [Hubert Selby, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-selby-jr/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [In the mental disturbance and effort of writing, what sustains you is the certainty that on every page there is something left unsaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesare-pavese/in-the-mental-disturbance-and-effort-of-writing-what-sustains-you-is/) [Cesare Pavese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesare-pavese/) > [Of course I doubt. I do not practice a certainty. I practice a faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/of-course-i-doubt-i-do-not-practice-a-certainty-i-practice-a-faith/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As a businessman, I know that businesses need certainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/as-a-businessman-i-know-that-businesses-need-certainty/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [It is suggested that in domestic violence at least the presence or absence of a firearm, or of any other type of weapon, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-greenwood/it-is-suggested-that-in-domestic-violence-at-least-the-presence-or/) [Colin Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-greenwood/) > [Every single person who is a member of our party deserves to have certainty. They deserve to know that my attention and focus is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annamie-paul/every-single-person-who-is-a-member-of-our-party-deserves-to-have/) [Annamie Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annamie-paul/) > [The significance and volume of repairs that are needed across the country demand that we give state and local governments the long-term certainty they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/the-significance-and-volume-of-repairs-that-are-needed-across-the/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [“Death is the one great certainty in life. That’s what my dad used to say. Nothing else is certain. Not love. Not happiness. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-gray/death-is-the-one-great-certainty-in-life-that-s-what-my-dad-used-to/) [Mila Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-gray/) > [ \[I\]f in other sciences we should arrive at certainty without doubt and truth without error, it behooves us to place the foundations of knowledge… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-bacon/i-f-in-other-sciences-we-should-arrive-at-certainty-without-doubt-and/) [Roger Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-bacon/) > [Do not lose hope; St. Joseph also experienced moments of difficulty, but he never lost faith and was able to overcome them, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/do-not-lose-hope-st-joseph-also-experienced-moments-of-difficulty-but/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [Finding someone that trusted my vision helped me find certainty in who I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/finding-someone-that-trusted-my-vision-helped-me-find-certainty-in/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) [Browse all 1,776 Certainty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Benjamin Franklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-and-taxes/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certainty" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-and-taxes/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/164/benjamin-franklin-65_certainty_the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-a_2319597.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.” — Benjamin Franklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Benjamin Franklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only things of certainty are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-and-taxes/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/the-only-things-of-certainty-are-death-and-taxes/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```