Who said “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”?

Verified

Benjamin Franklin. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceLetter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy (13 November 1789), quoting a popular phrase dated back to the 1716 play The Cobbler of Preston, written by Christopher Bullock.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

Source checked · Something wrong? Report a correction

Authors A–Z
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
— Benjamin Franklin
VerifiedLetter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy (13 November 1789), quoting a popular phrase dated back to the 1716 play The Cobbler of Preston, written by Christopher Bullock. · evidenceCertainty
Report

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: Letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy (13 November 1789), quoting a popular phrase dated back to the 1716 play The Cobbler of Preston, written by Christopher Bullock..

APA

Franklin, B. (n.d.). In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3920-in-this-world-nothing-can-be-said-to/

MLA

Franklin, Benjamin. “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3920-in-this-world-nothing-can-be-said-to/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Franklin, Benjamin. “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/3920-in-this-world-nothing-can-be-said-to/.

Related quotes

More quotes by Benjamin Franklin

“The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”
Verified“Father Abraham's Speech,” preface to: “Poor Richard Improved, 1758,” Founders Online, National Archives, accessed 27 May 2020. [Original source: The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, vol. 7, October 1, 1756 through March 31, 1758, ed. Leonard W. Labaree. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1963, pp. · evidenceDetails & citeInaction
Report
“The way to see by Faith is to shut the Eye of Reason.”
Verified"July. VII Month.", Poor Richard's Almanack (1758), Philadelphia: B. Frankin and D. Hall · evidenceDetails & citeFaith
Report
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
VerifiedThis was first used by Franklin for the Pennsylvania Assembly in its "Reply to the Governor" (November 11, 1755) Reply to the Governor · evidenceDetails & citeLiberty
Report
All 247 Benjamin Franklin quotes →