As April 15 looms ahead, we are all conscious of the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin who said “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
In addition to being one of our Founding Fathers, Franklin was an accomplished inventor, scientist, publisher, and diplomat. He was born on January 17, 1706 and passed on April 17, 1790, just two days after our current national tax day. Although the previous quote on death and taxes is his most famous, it is not his only. A few of his choice comments are listed below.
“I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.”
“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do things worth writing.”
“Some people die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.”
“Life’s Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.”
“I guess I don’t so much mind being old, as I mind being fat and old.”
“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”
“I look upon death to be as necessary to our constitution as sleep. We shall rise refreshed in the morning.”
“For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information or fuller consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right but found to be otherwise.”
Lastly, Franklin spoke these words at the funeral of a friend:
“We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God.
So as you face the tax deadline tomorrow, be grateful that you are still alive and earning an income sufficient enough that it requires that taxes be paid. Hopefully you pay twice as much in taxes next year because are even more financially successful in the days to come.
Sincerely,
Michael K. Gillis, Esq.
GILLIS & BIKOFSKY, P.C.
1150 Walnut Street
Newton, MA 02461
Phone: 617-244-4300
Fax: 617-964-0862
E-mail: mgillis@gillisandbikofsky.com