In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. — Benjamin Franklin

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

Author: Benjamin Franklin

Insight: We all know the feeling: something we thought was solid turns out to be negotiable. A job feels permanent until it isn't. A relationship we counted on shifts. Even our own bodies surprise us with their fragility. Franklin's famous line captures something deeper than just pessimism—it's actually a kind of relief. In a world where almost everything is up for debate, where plans collapse and certainties evaporate, there's an odd comfort in naming what truly won't change. Death and taxes aren't threats to resent; they're constants we can at least stop arguing about. What's quietly radical about this is what it gives us permission to do: let go of smaller certainties. We waste enormous energy trying to lock down outcomes that aren't actually in our control. We cling to how things "should" go, how people "should" behave, what success "should" look like. But if only two things are guaranteed, then maybe the real skill isn't prediction or control—it's flexibility. It's building a life around what actually matters to you rather than waiting for perfect conditions that will never arrive. The taxes part matters too. We're responsible for showing up to our obligations, even the ones we'd rather avoid. That's not just financial; it's about the commitments we make to others and ourselves.