A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

NOTHING for nothing

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  a 1704 T. BROWN Works (1707) I. 131 Thou know’st the proverb, nothing due for nought. 1800 M. EDGEWORTH Castle Rackrent 167 Nothing for nothing, or I’m under a mistake with you, Jason. 1858 G. J. WHYTE-MELVILLE Interpreter xxv. Sir Harry.. recollected the old-established principle of himself and his clique, ‘Nothing for nothing, and very little for a halfpenny.’ 1908 A. MACLAREN Ezekiel 172 The last touch in the picture is meanness, which turned everything into money. . . Is not ‘nothing for nothing’ an approved maxim to-day? 1981 N. FREELING One Damn Thing after Another iv. Their heart’s not in it. Nothing for nothing and not much for sixpence. "reciprocity
  

NOTHING is certain but death and taxes

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  1726 DEFOE Hist. Devil II. vi. Not the Man in the Moon, .. not the Inspiration of Mother Shipton, or the Miracles of Dr. Faustus, Things as certain as Death and Taxes, can be more firmly believ’d. 1789 B. FRANKLIN Letter 13 Nov. in Writings (1907) X. 69 In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. 1939 L. I. WILDER By Shores of Silver Lake xxv. Everything’s more or less a gamble... Nothing is certain but death and taxes. 2001 Washington Times 20 Dec. C10 In 1789, Benjamin Franklin said, ‘In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.’ Well, there is one way to avoid capital-gains taxes on investments—hold them until you die. "certainty and uncertainty
  

NOTHING is certain but the unforeseen
Similar to the UNEXPECTED always happens.

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  1886 J. A. FROUDE Oceana vii. There is a proverb that ‘nothing is certain but the unforeseen,’ and in fact few things turn out as we expect them. 1905 A. MACLA-REN Gospel according to St. Matthew I. 322 There is nothing certain to happen, says the proverb, but the unforeseen. Tomorrow will have its cares. "certainty and uncertainty;
  

foresight and hindsight