Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklinwas one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A renowned polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat. As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity. As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod, bifocals, and the Franklin stove, among other inventions. He facilitated many civic organizations, including...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionScientist
Date of Birth17 January 1706
CityBoston, MA
CountryUnited States of America
It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People one tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service.
Friends and neighbors, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing abatement.
Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments
We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our foolishness.
Taxes are indeed very heavy - We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness. Three times as much by our Pride. And four times as much by our Folly.
Taxes on consumption, like those on capital or income, to be just, must be uniform.
Nothing in the world is certain except for death and taxes.
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 et les impots.]
The only things of certainty are Death and Taxes.
The only certain things in life are death and taxes!
When a man and a woman die, as poets sung, His heart's the last part moves, her last, the tongue
The school looks very good. The uniforms are a good thing. It will be easy for my wife. She won't have to fight about clothes.
Is there any thing Men take more pains about than to render themselves unhappy?
Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes, who have need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the pract