death and taxes

Several famous authors have uttered lines to this effect. The first was Daniel Defoe, in The Political History of the Devil, 1726: 

"Things as certain as death and taxes, can be more firmly believed." 

Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) used the form we are currently more familiar with, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, 1789, which was re-printed in The Works of Benjamin Franklin, 1817: 

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

Another thought on the theme of death and taxes is Margaret Mitchell's line from her book Gone With the Wind, 1936: 

"Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them."

Quotes from this place

Saturday started with the funeral of Dolores' Aunt Norma and closed with doing Carolyn's taxes. In between, many family conversations at the funeral and reception following. More conversations as the girls joined us for the NE Revolution home opener and dinner following. There is plenty of catching up to do. It was cold at Gillette Stadium but the Revs won 2-1 so that helped us stay warm.