WIST Quotations

Orwell, George -- Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine

Dave — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 11:46:58 +0000

Society has always to demand a little more from human beings than it will get in practice. It has to demand faultless discipline and self-sacrifice, it must expect its subjects to work hard, pay their taxes, and be faithful to their wives, it must assume that men think it glorious to die on the battlefield and women want to wear themselves out with child-bearing. The whole of what one may call official literature is founded on such assumptions.

George Orwell (1903-1950) English journalist, essayist, writer [pseud. of Eric Arthur Blair]
Essay (1941-09), “The Art of Donald McGill,” Horizon Magazine
(Source)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 19, Feet of Clay [Mr. Hopkinson and Death] (1996)

Dave — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 22:32:05 +0000

“This is most uncalled-for. Couldn’t you have arranged a less awkward time?”
Only by consultation with your murderer.
“It all seems very badly organized. I wish to make a complaint. I pay my taxes, after all.
I am Death, not Taxes. I turn up only once.

Terry Pratchett (1948-2015) English author
Discworld No. 19, Feet of Clay [Mr. Hopkinson and Death] (1996)
(Source)

See Bullock (1716).

Adams, John -- Diary (1772, Spring), “Notes for a Oration at Braintree”

Dave — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:20:55 +0000

Wise and free Nations have made it their Rule, never to vote their Donations of Money to their Kings to enable them to carry on the Affairs of Government, until they had Opportunities to examine the State of the Nation, and to remonstrate against Grievances and demand and obtain the Redress of them.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Diary (1772, Spring), “Notes for a Oration at Braintree”
(Source)

Rogers, Will -- Column (1926-01-10), “Weekly Article”

Dave — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 22:18:24 +0000

We owe more money than any Nation in the World, and we are LOWERING TAXES. When is the time to pay off a debt if it is not when you are doing well? […] Will you tell me any good reason (OUTSIDE OF POLITICS) why Taxes should be lowered this year? I know it’s good politics to lower taxes. In fact, did you ever figure it out Taxes is all there is to Politics? I bet you tomorrow if you started a Political Party and had this as its platform , “No taxes are to be paid at all. We will borrow money on our National resources for all current expenses. Remember the Slogan. No Taxes as long as we can borrow.” Well I will bet you you would have the biggest Political party in America.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1926-01-10), “Weekly Article”
(Source)

Present in an elided form in his The Autobiography of Will Rogers (1949) [ed. Donald Day].

Mitchell, Margaret -- Gone with the Wind, Part 4. ch. 38 [Scarlett] (1936)

Dave — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 12:46:21 +0000

Death and taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them!

Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949) American author and journalist.
Gone with the Wind, Part 4. ch. 38 [Scarlett] (1936)
(Source)

On death and taxes, see Bullock.

La Bruyere, Jean de -- The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 6 “Of Gifts of Fortune [Des Biens de Fortune],” § 13 (6.13) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]

Dave — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 21:51:28 +0000

Let us not envy a certain class of men for their enormous riches; they have paid such an equivalent for them that it would not suit us; they have given for them their peace of mind, their health, their honour, and their conscience; this is rather too dear, and there is nothing to be made out of such a bargain.

[N’envions point à une sorte de gens leurs grandes richesses; ils les ont à titre onéreux, et qui ne nous accommoderait point: ils ont mis leur repos, leur santé, leur honneur et leur conscience pour les avoir; cela est trop cher, et il n’y a rien à gagner à un tel marché.]

Jean de La Bruyère (1645-1696) French essayist, moralist
The Characters [Les Caractères], ch. 6 “Of Gifts of Fortune [Des Biens de Fortune],” § 13 (6.13) (1688) [tr. Van Laun (1885)]
(Source)

One translator suggestions the "certain class of men" refers to the partisans, or tax-farmers: private tax collectors, often of humble origin, who purchased the right to their job, and were notorious for turning tax collection into a profitable profession.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Let us not envy some Men their great Riches; their Burthens would be too heavy for us; we cou'd not Sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain 'em: 'Tis to pay so dear for them that there is nothing to be got by the Bargain.
[Bullord ed. (1696)]

Let us not envy some Men their great Riches, their burden would be too heavy for us; we cou'd not sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain 'em: 'Tis to pay so dear for 'em, that there is nothing to be got by the Bargain.
[Curll ed. (1713)]

Let us not envy some Men their accountable Riches; their Burthen would be too heavy for us; we could not sacrifice, as they do, Health, Quiet, Honour and Conscience, to obtain them. It is to pay so dear for them, that the Bargain is a Loss.
[Browne ed. (1752)]

We need not envy certain people their great wealth; they acquired it at a heavy cost, which would not suit us; they staked their rest, their health, their honour and their conscience to acquire it; the price is too high, and there is nothing to be gained by such a bargain.
[tr. Stewart (1970)]

Adams, John -- Letter (1785-09-10) to John Jebb

Dave — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 21:32:06 +0000

The Whole People must take upon themselvs the Education of the Whole People and must be willing to bear the expences of it. There should not be a district of one Mile Square without a school in it, not founded by a Charitable individual but maintained at the expence of the People themselvs.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1785-09-10) to John Jebb
(Source)

Washington, George -- “Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

Dave — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 01:59:31 +0000

No taxes can be devised which are not more or less inconvenient and unpleasant.

George Washington (1732–1799) American military leader, Founding Father, US President (1789–1797)
“Farewell Address” (17 Sep 1796)

Nader, Ralph -- “Public Citizen Number One,” by Debra Saunders, San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle (13 Oct 1996)

Dave — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 03:06:25 +0000

When people ask, “Why should the rich pay a larger percent of their income than middle-income people?” — my answer is not an answer most people get: It’s because their power developed from laws that enriched them.

Ralph Nader (b. 1934) American attorney, author, lecturer, political activist
“Public Citizen Number One,” by Debra Saunders, San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle (13 Oct 1996)

Gervais, Ricky -- Twitter (5 Feb 2014)

Dave — Thu, 16 Jun 2016 17:15:12 +0000

Same sex marriage isn’t gay privilege, it’s equal rights. Privilege would be something like gay people not paying taxes. Like churches don’t.

Ricky Gervais (b. 1961) English comedian, actor, director, writer
Twitter (5 Feb 2014)
(Source)

Bullock, Christopher -- The Cobler of Preston [Toby Guzzle] (1716)

Dave — Mon, 18 Apr 2016 15:48:56 +0000

‘Tis impossible to be sure of any thing but Death and Taxes.

Christopher Bullock (1690?-1724) English actor and dramatist
The Cobler of Preston [Toby Guzzle] (1716)
(Source)

Earliest spotting of the phrase; if not popular before, it was subsequently picked up by a number of sources prior to the more famous formulation by Benjamin Franklin in 1789. More discussion: Nothing Is Certain, Except Death and Taxes – Quote Investigator.

Maher, Bill -- Real Time with Bill Maher (23 Sep 2011)

Dave — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:23:47 +0000

I’m not really rich. I’m something far more noble I’m a job creator. [Heavenly chorus] Sort of the same way Patagonian tooth-fish became Chilean sea-bass. [Heavenly chorus] But y’know what, just by suggesting, just by bringing it up, that he is going to tax me more, Comrade Obama has created an atmosphere of uncertainty that makes me skittish about creating more jobs, yeah, I have been so freaked out that today at breakfast I could barely butter my gold. You see, you poor people, you don’t get how much “uncertainty” gives us job creators the willies. It’s terrifying — like when you find out your private island has natives; or when your wife notices the maid’s kid looks just like you; or when the limo driver tries to start a conversation. So tax me at a higher rate if you like, you’re practically firing yourselves. Because I’ll tell you something, I have been so shitting in my pants about this uncertainty thing, that yesterday I let go a dozen essential workers at my compound, including my Tivo programmer, my manscaper, the liposuctionist, my gardener’s personal trainer, my dog whisperer, the lookalike I hired to foil assassination attempts, my private farmer, the lady who dispenses hand sanitizer after our pre-show prayer circle, the girl I pay to mistake me for Jon Hamm, and the guy who takes care of the shark tank. Which reminds me, I’m gonna have to let go two sharks!

William "Bill" Maher (b. 1956) American comedian, political commentator, critic, television host.
Real Time with Bill Maher (23 Sep 2011)

Scalzi, John -- “Tax Frenzies and How to Hose Them Down,” Whatever blog (26 Sep 2010)

Dave — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:33:36 +0000

I really don’t know what you do about the “taxes are theft” crowd, except possibly enter a gambling pool regarding just how long after their no-tax utopia comes true that their generally white, generally entitled, generally soft and pudgy asses are turned into thin strips of Objectivist Jerky by the sort of pitiless sociopath who is actually prepped and ready to live in the world that logically follows these people’s fondest desires. Sorry, guys. I know you all thought you were going to be one of those paying a nickel for your cigarettes in Galt Gulch. That’ll be a fine last thought for you as the starving remnants of the society of takers closes in with their flensing tools.

John Scalzi (b. 1969) American writer
“Tax Frenzies and How to Hose Them Down,” Whatever blog (26 Sep 2010)
(Source)

Sutherland, George -- Gregory v. Helvering, 293 U.S. 465, 469 (1935)

Dave — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 12:41:35 +0000

The legal right of a taxpayer to decrease the amount of what otherwise would be his taxes, or altogether avoid them, by means which the law permits, cannot be doubted.

George Sutherland (1862-1942) Anglo-American jurist, Supreme Court Justice (1922-1938)
Gregory v. Helvering, 293 U.S. 465, 469 (1935)

Chittister, Joan -- Interview with Bill Moyer, “NOW” (PBS) (12 Nov 2004)

Dave — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 13:56:36 +0000

But I do not believe that just because you’re opposed to abortion, that makes you “pro-life.” In fact, I think in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking. If all you want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed — and why would I think that you don’t? Because you don’t want any tax money to go there. That’s not “pro-life”. That’s pro-birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of pro-life is.

Joan D. Chittister (b. 1936) American Benedictine nun, author and lecturer
Interview with Bill Moyer, “NOW” (PBS) (12 Nov 2004)
(Source)

Franklin, Benjamin -- Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy (13 Nov 1789)

Dave — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:21:53 +0000

Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency, but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy (13 Nov 1789)
(Source)

See Bullock.

Rogers, Will -- Column (1928-01-01), “Daily Telegram”

Dave — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:46:48 +0000

Boys, have you been following those appropriations? Well, Secretary Mellon has asked Congress to please wait till after March 15, when the new income taxes come in, before passing any legislation, as he don’t know how much there will be, if any. But Congress says: No, we are going to divide it up now, whether there is any to divide or not. What do you suppose we are in Congress for, if it ain’t to split up the swag? Please pass the gravy.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
Column (1928-01-01), “Daily Telegram”
(Source)

Numerous shortened variants of this can be found online. Written while in Beverly Hills.

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr. -- Compania General De Tabacos De Filipinas v. Collector of Internal Revenue, 275 U.S. 87, 100 (1927) [Dissent]

Dave — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:39:41 +0000

Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841-1935) American jurist, Supreme Court Justice
Compania General De Tabacos De Filipinas v. Collector of Internal Revenue, 275 U.S. 87, 100 (1927) [Dissent]
(Source)

Full text is "Taxes are what we pay for civilized society, including the chance to insure.

References are also found (without citation) to a 1904 speech, "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society" (this variation is quoted by the IRS above the entrance of their headquarters). Bartlett's (1980) cites the above wording, but incorrectly claims it was in 1904.

In Felix Frankfurter, Mr. Justice Holmes and the Supreme Court (1938), Holmes is quoted as rebuking a secretary's query about hating to pay taxes: "No, young feller. I like to pay taxes. With them I buy civilization."

More information here.

Rogers, Will -- (Spurious)

Dave — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:22:20 +0000

Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.

Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist
(Spurious)

Not found in any of his works. Not attributed to Rogers until the mid-1960s.

For more information on the possible origins of this quotation, see Quote Origin: Thank Goodness We Don’t Get As Much Government As We Pay For – Quote Investigator®.

Bible, Vol. 2. New Testament -- Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 22:21 (Matt 22:21) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 18:00:00 +0000

Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

[Τότε λέγει αὐτοῖς Ἀπόδοτε οὖν τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Book 1. Gospel of Matthew 22:21 (Matt 22:21) (Jesus) [KJV (1611)]
(Source)

When Jesus' enemies tried to trap him into either supporting paying taxes to the hated Romans, or criminally suggesting that taxes should not be paid. More discussion of the passage here: Render unto Caesar - Wikipedia.

This passage is paralleled in Mark 12:17 and Luke 20:25.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

He then said to them, "Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and to God what belongs to God."
[JB (1966)]

So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay to the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay to God what belongs to God.”
[GNT (1976)]

Then he said to them, 'Very well, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and God what belongs to God.'
[NJB (1985)]

Then he said, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”
[CEB (2011)]

Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.”
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Martin, Judith -- Miss Manners’ Guide for the the Turn-of-the-Millennium, Part 2 “Home Life,” “Parents and Children” (1989)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The invention of the teenager was a mistake, in Miss Manners’ opinion. […] Once you identify a period of life in which people have few restrictions and, at the same time, few responsibilities — they get to stay out late but don’t have to pay taxes — naturally nobody wants to live any other way.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
Miss Manners’ Guide for the the Turn-of-the-Millennium, Part 2 “Home Life,” “Parents and Children” (1989)
(Source)

Most often rendered as a slight paraphrase:

The invention of the teenager was a mistake. Once you identify a period of life in which people get to stay out late but don't have to pay taxes -- naturally, no one wants to live any other way.