Pretty Sweet Category: tax history

taxes rosetta stone

Rosetta Stone Translation: Mostly Just a Tax Document*

The Rosetta Stone is the most important Egyptian archaeological discovery of all time.

It was first unearthed by Napoleon’s officers near the northern Egyptian town of Rosetta in 1799 and seized shortly after by British troops when they defeated Napoleon in 1801. A year later the Rosetta Stone was moved to the British Museum in London, where it has been on display ever since.

The Rosetta Stone is a slab of black basalt inscribed in three languages: hieroglyphics at the top, demotic (a lost Ancient Egyptian script) in the center, and Greek at the bottom.

The familiar Greek writing gave archeologists the ability to translate the other two mysterious languages and helped to unlock the mystery of Ancient Egyptian artifacts and culture. But, what does the Rosetta Stone actually say?

The Rosetta must say something really significant, filled with secrets of the past, or the meaning of life, or how to save the world from Climate Change, right?

No, actually, like most surviving ancient documents, a lot of what is written on the Rosetta Stone is about taxes!

The Rosetta Stone: What it Says | About Taxes | Tax Collectors | Translation

Here’s What the Rosetta Stone Says:

Here’s more about why the Rosetta Stone was created, and why Egyptian scribes took considerable time to write an important message on numerous huge stones.

The Rosetta Stone Was Mostly About Taxes!

Recently Donald Trump has gotten a lot of support (or at least attention) for his well-publicized tax cuts. Well, that’s kind of what Egypt’s king, Ptolemy V, was going for over 2000 years ago.

You see, back when the Rosetta Stone was inscribed in 200 B.C., Egypt was mired in a decade-long civil war. The war started when Egyptian soldiers returned from a long military campaign in the east and found Egypt plagued with new taxes. The soldiers would have none of these taxes, and revolted, starting an ugly civil war.

In a desperate attempt to end the in-fighting, the boy king Ptolemy V issued a “Proclamation of Peace.” The most significant part of it was general amnesty for the rebels including freedom for tax debtors who had filled Egypt’s prisons. Tax debts were forgiven, and fugitives were invited to return to Egypt to reclaim their confiscated property.

Another important provision was that their would once again be tax amnesty for the temples, as in the earlier days of the pharaohs. This meant that priests would pay no taxes including on their crops, vineyards, and land.

The proclamation was basically Ptolemy capitulating to the masses; especially the wealthy priests, who now stood to benefit immensely from the tax cuts. You could think of it as his, “Make Egypt Great Again“ campaign. (What about trickle-down economics?)

“Let this decree be copied… And let it be inscribed upon a tablet of stone in the writing of the hieroglyphics, and in the writing of books (Demotic), and in the writing of the Greeks….”

Oh, and Ptolemy also declared himself a god in the Proclamation of Peace, and ordered that his statue be worshipped three times a day in all the temples of Egypt. (more)

So… I guess it was a little bit about him, too!

Temples Displayed Rosetta Stones to Ward Off Tax Collectors

rosetta stone translation taxes

Egyptian temples were asked to display a statue of Ptolemy V along with one of the Rosetta Stones at their entrance. Each temple also placed a sign above their entrance that read, “No Entrance to Those (tax men) Who Have No Business In the Temple.”

The Rosetta Stones served to resound this “no trespassing” warning to tax collectors by displaying a proclamation of the king’s tax cuts… in three languages, and in stone!

So, anyone who came to the entrance of a temple trying to collect taxes would be greeted by a “no trespassing” sign, a statue of Ptolemy V, and a large Rosetta stone thanking the king for tax immunity.

It seems that even the most ambitious agents of ancient Egypt’s IRS must have been deterred from trying to collect taxes at a temple!

Rosetta Stone Translation: I Am God, You’re Welcome!

trump tax cuts

Basically, the Rosetta Stone says, “I’m a God… You’re Welcome for the Tax Cuts!” 

Oh, that sounds familiar!

Anyway, after the Proclamation of Peace, several Rosetta Stones were carved to thank the king for the tax immunity to be placed at the entrance of every temple. Here’s a translation of what the Rosetta Stone says:

“Whereas king Ptolemy… has been a benefactor both to the temples and to those who dwell in them, as well as all those who are his subjects, being a god sprung from a god and goddess… has dedicated to the temples’ revenues in money and corn and has undertaken much outlay to bring Egypt into prosperity, and to establish the temples, and has been generous with all his own means; and of the revenues and taxes levied in Egypt some he has wholly remitted and others he has lightened, in order that the people and all the others might be in prosperity during his reign

And, whereas he has remitted the (tax) debts to the crown being many in number which they in Egypt and in the rest of the kingdom owed…

And, whereas he has directed that the gods shall continue to enjoy the revenues of the temples and the yearly allowances given to them, both of corn and money, likewise also the tax revenue assigned to the gods from vine land and from gardens and the other properties which belonged to the gods in his father’s time;

And, whereas he directed also, with regard to the priests, that they should pay no more as the tax for admission to the priesthood than what was appointed them throughout his father’s reign and until the first year of his own reign, blah, blah, blah.” full translation

Much of the Rosetta Stone pretty much just translates to, “I’m a god, and you’re welcome for the tax cuts!” Hmmm… sound familiar?

The Rosetta Stone Was Basically Just a Tax Document!

Long before politicians used TV, the internet, and radio for public relations, they had big hunks of stone with hieroglyphics to promote their agenda.

Even though what the Rosetta Stone says is a bit of a letdown, it would go on to be the most significant artifact of ancient Egypt, finally enabling archaeologists to translate their mysterious lost ancient languages.

The Rosetta Stone is an early example of a narcissistic politician promising tax cuts to appease their angry and defrauded public; a practice that would continue through all of human history.

That is, until greed and taxes increase again, turmoil ensues, people lose their heads, and the cycle repeats!

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Death & Taxes Quote History: Did Ben Franklin Say it*

Most people have heard the phrase “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It’s short, sharp, and oddly comforting in a darkly humorous way. The death and taxes quote shows up everywhere from finance blogs and political speeches to memes and coffee mugs. However, few people stop to ask where the quote originally came from, who said it first, or why it has endured for centuries. To understand why the death and taxes quote has aged so well, let’s start with the origin and history.

The Origin and History of the Death and Taxes Quote:

The idea behind the death and taxes quote predates the United States, but its most famous wording of the idiom is tied to Benjamin Franklin. In 1789, Franklin wrote a letter to French physicist Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, in which he famously stated:

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

That single sentence cemented the phrase into cultural history. Ben Franklin, known for his wit and practicality, had a knack for distilling complex truths into plainspoken language. The quote wasn’t meant to be poetic; it was meant to be honest.

Interestingly, earlier versions of the idea existed even before Franklin. In 1716, playwright Christopher Bullock wrote that, “tis impossible to be sure of anything but death and taxes.” Franklin didn’t invent the concept, but he perfected its phrasing and gave it lasting popularity, even though the quote is sometimes wrongly attributed to Mark Twain!

Why Benjamin Franklin’s Version Stuck

ben franklin death tax quote

Benjamin Franklin lived in a world shaped by uncertainty: revolutions, fragile governments, and experimental economic systems. Taxes were especially controversial in the late 18th century, having helped spark the American Revolution itself. Yet Franklin acknowledged a hard truth: no matter how much people resist taxation, governments always find a way to collect it.

Franklin’s version of the death and taxes quote resonated because it balanced humor with realism. It didn’t scold or moralize. Instead, it offered a shrugging acceptance of life’s unavoidable realities. That tone is part of why the quote has survived for more than 200 years. Plus, Franklin was a famous Founding Father and a brilliant author, inventor, and diplomat, so that helps!

The Meaning Behind the Death and Taxes Quote

At its core, the death and taxes quote is about inevitability.

  • Death represents the ultimate human limitation
  • taxes represent the unavoidable reach of society and government.
  • Together, death and taxes symbolize the forces that no individual can fully escape, regardless of wealth, power, or status.

The “death and taxes” quote is often used in financial contexts because taxes are one of the few constants in money management. Investments rise and fall. Markets boom and crash. Laws change. But taxes, in one form or another, always remain. Pair that with our mortality, and the quote becomes a blunt reminder that long-term planning must account for both.

In a deeper sense, the phrase also reflects humility. It reminds us that certainty is rare in life. People chase guarantees like perfect careers, stable markets, and lasting empires, but history shows how fragile those assumptions can be.

Why the Quote Still Matters Today

grim reaper bill ted

Centuries later, the old line about death and taxes is still relevant because it rings true. Modern life may look different on the surface, but it’s no less unsettled. Markets swing, politics lurch, technology rewrites the rules faster than we can keep up. In the middle of all that noise, the quote endures as a small, steady reminder of the few things that haven’t changed: death and taxes.

That’s why it continues to surface in conversations about estate planning, retirement, and long-term financial decisions. You can’t outrun mortality, but you can plan for it. You may never escape taxes, but you can approach them with acceptance rather than fear. The phrase gently pushes people toward preparation instead of wishful thinking.

Part of the famous quote’s staying power is cultural. The line manages to be both sober and wry at the same time. It names an uncomfortable truth without wallowing in it, offering a touch of dry humor in the face of inevitability. That mix of honesty and restraint is what keeps it familiar and surprisingly comforting generation after generation.

I mean, what else has remained unchanged since Ben Franklin’s time?!

Death, Taxes, and Human Nature

death taxes cartoon

Part of the power of the death and taxes quote lies in how neatly it captures human nature. We have a habit of resisting uncomfortable realities. We put off thinking about death until we’re forced to, and we grumble endlessly about taxes as if irritation alone might make them disappear. Still, both death and taxes persist, indifferent to our avoidance and complaints.

Ben Franklin’s quiet brilliance was in stating that truth without scolding or moralizing. The line doesn’t ask anyone to embrace death or celebrate taxes. It simply reminds us that denial is a losing strategy. Acceptance, while less satisfying in the moment, is often the first step toward making wiser choices.

Final Thoughts

The death and taxes quote has survived because it speaks to something timeless: the limits of control. From Benjamin Franklin’s era to today’s digital economy, the message hasn’t changed. Life is uncertain, but a few things are guaranteed including our demise and tariffs.

And sometimes, the most honest wisdom comes not from inspiration, but from acceptance!