Death and taxes and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them!
—Margaret Mitchell (1900–49) American Novelist, Journalist
A fool and his money are soon parted. The rest of us wait for tax time.
—Common Proverb
The rope by which the great blocks of taxes are attached to any citizenry is simple loyalty.
—Stephen King (b.1947) American Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Screenwriter, Columnist, Film Director
In other words, a democratic government is the only one in which those who vote for a tax can escape the obligation to pay it.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
No matter how bad a child is, he is still good for a tax deduction.
—U.S. Proverb
To please universally was the object of his life; but to tax and to please, no more than to love and to be wise, is not given to men.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
It is getting harder and harder to support the government in the style to which it has become accustomed.
—Unknown
In 1790, the nation which had fought a revolution against taxation without representation discovered that some of its citizens weren’t much happier about taxation with representation.
—Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–73) American Head of State, Political leader
The tax-exempt privilege is a feature always reflected in the market price of (municipal) bonds. The investor pays for it.
—Louis Brandeis (1856–1941) American Jurist
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
—John Marshall (1755–1835) American Judge, Lawyer
Taxes and golf are alike, you drive your heart out for the green, and then end up in the hole.
—Unknown
The POWER of taxing people AND their property IS essential TO the very existence of government.
—James Madison (1751–1836) American Founding Father, Statesman, President
When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms. Armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes.
—Tacitus (56–117) Roman Orator, Historian
Our Founding Fathers objected to taxation without representation. They should see it today with representation.
—Anonymous
What a benefit would the government render to itself, and to every city, village, and hamlet in the States, if it would tax whiskey and rum almost to the point of prohibition! Was it Bonaparte who said that he found vices very good patriots? “He got five millions from the love of brandy, and he should be glad to know which of the virtues would pay him as much.” Tobacco and opium have broad backs, and will cheerfully carry the load of armies, if you choose to make them pay high for such joy as they give, and such harm as they do.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
The imposition of taxes has its limits. There is a maximum which cannot be transcended. Suppose the citizen to be taxed by the general government to the utmost extent of his ability, or a thing as much as it can possibly bear, and the state imposes a tax at the same time, which authority is to take it?
—Henry Clay (1777–1852) American Politician
There is just one thing I can promise you about the outer-space program—your tax-dollar will go further.
—Wernher von Braun (1912–77) German-born American Engineer, Scientist
Government lasts as long as the under-taxed can defend themselves against the over-taxed.
—Bernard Berenson (1865–1959) American Art Critic, Historian
Nothing hurts more than having to pay an income tax, unless it is not having to pay an income tax.
—Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar (1864–1930) Scottish Businessperson
Like mothers, taxes are often misunderstood but seldom forgotten.
—George Wilshere, 1st Baron Bramwell (1808–92) English Judge
The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still carries any reward.
—John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) English Economist
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 (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
I am thankful for the taxes I pay because it means that I’m employed.
—Nancie J. Carmody
Every advantage has its tax.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Of all our natural resources, the first one to be exhausted may be the taxpayer.
—Unknown
It’s getting so that children have to be educated to realize that “Damn” and “Taxes” are two separate words.
—Unknown
The income tax has made liars out of more Americans than golf. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don’t know when it’s through if you are a crook or a martyr.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
The taxpayer—that’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to take the civil service examination.
—Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) American Head of State