--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have long had death and taxes as the…" description: "\"We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of inevitability. But there are those who believe that death is the preferable of the two.\" — Erw..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/erwin-griswold-72369_believe_we-have-long-had-death-and-taxes-as-the_2459421.jpg" --- # We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of… ![“We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of inevitability. But there are those who believe that death is the preferable of the two.” quote by Erwin Griswold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/erwin-griswold-72369_believe_we-have-long-had-death-and-taxes-as-the_2459421.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/erwin-griswold-72369_believe_we-have-long-had-death-and-taxes-as-the_2459421.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e7/erwin-griswold-72369_believe_we-have-long-had-death-and-taxes-as-the_2459421.jpg) > “We have long had death and taxes as the two standards of inevitability. But there are those who believe that death is the preferable of the two.” Erwin Griswold ## 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 inevitable, yet some view death as the lesser of two certainties. **In simple terms:** Death and taxes are inevitable, but death may seem preferable. Key Takeaway Consider what truly matters in life. Themes mortality economics philosophy Mood reflective serious Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - financial planning - life priorities - ethical debates Key Concepts Existential choice societal norms Questions to Reflect On - Is inevitability a reason to accept? - How do we find meaning despite inevitability? A Different Perspective Preference ignores the value of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [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/) [Inevitability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inevitability/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) ## Related quotes > [I've always believed my success in the entertainment business is an inevitability. You have to believe that; you have to be an optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holt-mccallany/i-ve-always-believed-my-success-in-the-entertainment-business-is-an/) [Holt McCallany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holt-mccallany/) > [Death and taxes are inevitable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chandler-haliburton/death-and-taxes-are-inevitable/) [Thomas Chandler Haliburton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chandler-haliburton/) > [The difference between death and taxes, is Death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/the-difference-between-death-and-taxes-is-death-doesn-t-get-worse-2/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [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/) > [Another difference between death and taxes is that you don't have to work like fury to pay for the dying you did last year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-quillen/another-difference-between-death-and-taxes-is-that-you-don-t-have-to/) [Robert Quillen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-quillen/) > [The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/the-only-difference-between-death-and-taxes-is-that-death-doesn-t-get/) [Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 > [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/) > [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/) > [“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 ## More by Erwin Griswold > [The right to be let alone is the underlying principle of the Constitution's Bill of Rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-griswold/the-right-to-be-let-alone-is-the-underlying-principle-of-the/) Erwin Griswold > [The privilege against self-incrimination is one of the great landmarks in man's struggle to make himself civilized... The Fifth is a lone sure rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-griswold/the-privilege-against-self-incrimination-is-one-of-the-great/) Erwin Griswold > [Indeed, that the Second Amendment poses no barrier to strong gun laws is perhaps the most well-settled proposition in American constitutional law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-griswold/indeed-that-the-second-amendment-poses-no-barrier-to-strong-gun-laws/) Erwin Griswold Explore all 4 Erwin Griswold quotes ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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