Death and Taxes (1716, 1724, 1769, 1789)

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   Almost tax time.  Almost war.
   "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes" is usually credited to Benjamin Franklin, in a 1789 letter to M. Leroy.
   Literature Online shows that Franklin has received too much credit:



1. Bishop, Samuel, 1731-1795 [Author Record]
EPIGRAM CLXXVI. [The world can nothing sure, we're told] 1Kb, [from The Poetical Works (1796)]
Found 1 hit:
...nothing sure, we're told,    Save  death and taxes show: Of death,...

2. Rexroth, Kenneth, 1905- [Author Record]
THE DRAGON AND THE UNICORN 363Kb, [from The Collected Longer Poems (1968), New Directions]
Found 1 hit:
      I 55Kb
...Himself in a hand mirror.  Death and taxes, the affairs Of...

3. Ward, Edward, 1667-1731 [Author Record]
THE Dancing Devils: OR, THE Roaring Dragon. A Dumb Farce. As it was lately Acted at Both Houses, but particularly at one, with unaccountable Success. 77Kb, [from The Wandring Spy (1724)]
Found 1 hit:
The Necromancer: OR Harlequin turn'd Doctor Faustus. 59Kb
Act II. 34Kb
...course of Fortune,     But  Death and Taxes, they are cettain....


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Poetry (3 entries, 3 hits) Drama (2 entries, 2 hits) Prose (0 entries, 0 hits) WWW Texts (0

1. Bullock, Christopher, 1690?-1724 [Author Record]
The cobler of Preston (1716) 63Kb
THE COBLER OF PRESTON. A FARCE As it is Acted at the NEW THEATRE IN Lincolns-Inn-Fields. 62Kb
Found 1 hit:
Main text 54Kb
Scene 2 33Kb
...sure of any thing but  Death and Taxes,---therefore hold your Tongue,...

2. Reed, Joseph, 1723-1787 [Author Record]
Tom Jones (1769) 195Kb
TOM JONES, A COMIC OPERA: As it is Performed at the THEATRE-ROYAL IN COVENT-GARDEN. 194Kb
Found 1 hit:
Main text 189Kb
ACT I. 57Kb
Scene 45Kb
...nothing in this world but  death and taxes: however I could...