--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Benjamin Franklin said there were only…" description: "\"Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in thi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/ruth-ann-minner-45094_add_benjamin-franklin-said-there-were-only-t_1880774.png" --- # Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain… ![“Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.” quote by Ruth Ann Minner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/ruth-ann-minner-45094_add_benjamin-franklin-said-there-were-only-t_1880774.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/ruth-ann-minner-45094_add_benjamin-franklin-said-there-were-only-t_1880774.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a60/ruth-ann-minner-45094_add_benjamin-franklin-said-there-were-only-t_1880774.png) > “Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I'd like to add a third certainty: trash. And while some in this room might want to discuss reducing taxes, I want to talk about reducing trash.” [Ruth Ann Minner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-ann-minner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker adds environmental waste as a third certainty alongside death and taxes, urging focus on trash reduction. **In simple terms:** Trash is as inevitable as death and taxes, so we should address it. Key Takeaway Prioritize reducing waste. Themes environment responsibility policy sustainability Mood concerned motivated Type advocacy call‑to‑action When to use this quote - municipal waste management - corporate recycling programs - community clean‑up events - legislation on packaging - educational campaigns Key Concepts Ecology public health economics Questions to Reflect On - How can we make waste reduction economically viable? - What incentives encourage individuals to reduce trash? A Different Perspective Implementation can be costly and politically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Add](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/add/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty/) [Certainty Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certainty-trash-2654500/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Death and taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death-and-taxes/) [Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/franklin/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life / death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-death-2/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Reducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing/) [Reducing Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing-taxes-1042245/) [Reducing Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing-trash-2654501/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Taxes Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes-want-2006043/) [Thirds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirds/) [Trash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trash/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [In Quebec, we can no longer increase taxes if we want to stay competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-couillard/in-quebec-we-can-no-longer-increase-taxes-if-we-want-to-stay/) [Philippe Couillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-couillard/) > [As New York's United States Senator, I promise to reinstate the Moynihan 'Fisc Report' and work every day to address the imbalance of payments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/as-new-york-s-united-states-senator-i-promise-to-reinstate-the/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [I won't raise taxes, because I do not want to punish the people for the politicians' mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/i-won-t-raise-taxes-because-i-do-not-want-to-punish-the-people-for/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [America is one of the highest tax nations in the world. 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