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Choosing the perfect graduation quotes to celebrate a graduate’s achievement can be a delightful yet challenging task. It’s important to express your pride in their accomplishments while also reflecting their unique personality.
Whether you’re seeking humorous graduation quotes for a good laugh or motivational sayings to inspire, we’ve curated a list of 60 short graduation quotes for you to consider. Additionally, we’ve included helpful tips on how to effectively share these quotes, ensuring your congratulations resonate with the graduate as they embark on this significant milestone in their life.
Key Takeaways
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Consider the recipient’s personality when selecting a graduation quote to share.
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Limit the number of quotes you use; one or two impactful quotes are generally ideal.
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If delivering quotes in a speech, practice your delivery to enhance their impact.
10 Inspirational Graduation Quotes
These inspirational quotes are perfect for congratulating and motivating the graduates in your life.
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“To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” – Anatole France
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“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” – Steve Jobs
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“So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” – Christopher Reeve
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“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp; but if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne
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“To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe
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“If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction. Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.” – Melinda Gates
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“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Unknown (sometimes attributed to Mark Twain)
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“The old rules are crumbling and nobody knows what the new rules are. So make up your own rules.” – Neil Gaiman
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“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K. Rowling
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“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” – Maya Angelou
10 Funny Graduation Quotes
If you’re looking for humor or want to lighten the mood of your speech, consider these funny graduation quotes:
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“The only thing that ever sat its way to success was a hen.” – Sarah Brown
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“The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin
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“Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers
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“Don’t take life too seriously. No one makes it out alive.” – Elbert Hubbard
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“If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” – Muhammad Ali
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“You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today.” – Ray Magliozzi
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“If at first you don’t succeed, then skydiving definitely isn’t for you.” – Steven Wright
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“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” – Albert Einstein
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“You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
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“The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.” – Jon Stewart
10 College Graduation Quotes
Graduating from college is a remarkable achievement. These college graduation quotes can help underscore this significant milestone:
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“Your calling isn’t something that somebody can tell you about. It’s what you feel. It’s a part of your life force. It is the thing that gives you juice. The thing that you are supposed to do. And nobody can tell you what that is. You know it inside yourself.” – Oprah Winfrey
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“When you respect the idea that you are sharing the earth with other humans, and when you lead with your nice foot forward, you’ll win, every time. It might not be today, it might not be tomorrow, but it comes back to you when you need it.” – Kristen Bell
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“I urge you to set aside your labels and explore what your principles say about the world you wish to serve. Because beliefs are our anchors.” – Stacey Abrams
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“You will stumble and fall, you will experience both disaster and triumph, sometimes in the same day. But it’s really important to remember that like a hangover, neither triumphs nor disasters last forever.” – Helen Mirren
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“Don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” – Michelle Obama
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“Do all the other things, the ambitious things—travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes…but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness.” – George Saunders
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“Don’t buy society’s definition of success. Because it’s not working for anyone. It’s not working for women, it’s not working for men, it’s not working for polar bears, it’s not working for the cicadas that are apparently about to emerge and swarm us. It’s only truly working for those who make pharmaceuticals for stress, diabetes, heart disease, sleeplessness, and high blood pressure.” – Arianna Huffington
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“Do not worry too much about your lawn. You will soon find if you haven’t already that almost every adult American devotes tremendous time and money to the maintenance of an invasive plant species called turf grass that we can’t eat. I encourage you to choose better obsessions.” – John Green
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“Don’t just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table.” – Barack Obama
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“Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women.” – Nora Ephron
10 High School Graduation Quotes
These high school graduation quotes express your pride and excitement for the graduate as they step into the next stage of their life:
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“This path does not belong to your parents, your teachers, your leaders, or your lovers. Your path is your character defining itself more and more every day, like a photograph coming into focus.” – Jodie Foster
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“From my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as already artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art.” – Toni Morrison
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“Now the first suggestion is to aim high, but be aware that even before you have reached your ultimate professional destination, if you always strive for excellence, you can and should have a substantial impact on the world in which you live.” – Sandra Day O’Connor
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“Don’t be afraid of fear. Because it sharpens you, it challenges you, it makes you stronger; and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self.” – Ed Helms
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“Real courage is holding on to a still voice in your head that says, ‘I must keep going.’ It’s that voice that says nothing is a failure if it is not final. That voice that says to you, ‘Get out of bed. Keep going. I will not quit.’” – Cory Booker
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“Be compassionate to everyone. Don’t just search for whatever it is that annoys and frightens you; see beyond those things to the basic human being. Especially see the child in the man or woman. Even if they are destroying you, allow a moment to see how lost in their own delusion and suffering they are.” – Alice Walker
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“There is no script. Live your life. Soak it all in.” – Dick Costolo
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“But real leadership comes from the quiet nudging of an inner voice. It comes from realizing that the time has come to move beyond waiting to doing.” – Madeleine Albright
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“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living the result of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition; they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” – Steve Jobs
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“Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.” – Kerry Washington
10 Short Graduation Quotes
Short and impactful graduation quotes can leave a lasting impression. Here are some great options:
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“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” – Maria Robinson
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“Instruction ends in the schoolroom, but education ends only with life.” – Frederick W. Robertson
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“You don’t go to university so you can punch a clock. You go to university so you can be in a position to make a difference.” – Janet Napolitano
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“We may live in an age of instant messaging, instant gratification, and social media, but there is no way to shortcut the path to success.” – Tory Burch
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“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
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“The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.” – Jon Stewart
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“Education makes a people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.” – Henry Peter Brougham
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“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” – B.B. King
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“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul.” – Joseph Addison
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“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
10 Proud Graduation Quotes
For proud parents, here are congratulatory quotes to celebrate your child’s graduation:
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“Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait. Before you quit, try.” – William Arthur Ward
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“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point.” – Harold B. Melchart
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“You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative: think of it as your ticket to change the world.” – Tom Brokaw
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“As I stare out into this beautiful room, I see optimism, I see hope, I see the future. I know that each and every one of you has the opportunity to help someone else. All you need to do is help one person, expecting nothing in return. To me, that is a humanitarian.” – Rihanna
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“If you have found that thing, that purpose in life that gives you access to maximum enthusiasm, trust that! I’m not talking about a job, nor a career for that matter. I’m talking about a calling! That thing that forces the metaphorical lampshade from your soul, and mandates that everyone wear sunglasses in your presence because you’re just that bright! This is not a selfish act! Because now, those who fall within your sphere of influence, know that what is possible for you…is possible for them, as well.” – Sterling K. Brown
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“Never let the challenges you face in life defeat your spirit; be a leader by your actions, by your words, define your dream; make it happen no matter what the hurdles or obstacles may be.” – Alison Bechdel
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“Fearlessness means taking the first step even if you don’t know where it will take you. It means being driven by a higher purpose rather than by applause. It means knowing that you reveal your character when you stand apart more than when you stand with a crowd. Be fearless. Be the last people to accept things as they are and the first people to stand up and change them for the better.” – Tim Cook
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“Promise me, whether in times of certainty and clarity or in times of chaos, that you will be the bravest self you can be, to confront the challenges of the world. When uncertain times call, promise me that you will embrace community and not division. And promise me, finally, that you will live with a commitment to equal justice under the law, today and throughout your entire lives.” – Anita Hill
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“We are not going to arrive at mutual respect, which is where we solve common problems, if we cocoon ourselves in an ideological, social, or intellectual bubble. To move forward, we have to do it together. Humanity has to fight our tribal mindset. If you want to bring people around to your way of thinking, you need to first show them that you are open to theirs.” – Justin Trudeau
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“Courage is needed more than ever. At a time when women all over the world face physical abuse, restrictions over their ability to work, own property, travel, and even have custody over their children, we need courage. At a time when the LGBT community on every continent struggles for equal rights, freedom from imprisonment and even death, we need courage. At a time when more journalists are imprisoned around the world than at any time in the last three decades, and even here at home the media is under attack from the White House, we need courage.” – Amal Clooney
Tips for Delivering Graduation Quotes
Finding a great quote that resonates with you and the person you want to congratulate is only part of the equation. Here are some tips for delivering quotes effectively:
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Know Your Audience. If you’re a speaker at a graduation event, it’s crucial to understand who you’ll be addressing. The advice you share with social work students will differ significantly from that for graduates in finance.
This applies to written graduation cards as well. For instance, if you know your niece aspires to work for Apple, a quote from Steve Jobs (along with a thoughtful gift) would be a fitting choice.
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Pick Your Placement Wisely. From a rhetorical perspective, opening a speech with a quote and revisiting it at the end provides a cohesive narrative. However, strategically placing a quote in the middle of your speech can also emphasize your main theme.
In written cards, consider starting or concluding with a quote. Ensure you accompany it with personal words; try to connect the quote to the rest of your message.
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Don’t Overdo It with Quotes. Quotes are impactful because they encapsulate ideas succinctly. However, using too many can bore your audience. They want to hear your original thoughts, as excessive quotes can disrupt the flow of your speech.
In a card, stick to one or two quotes. For speeches, three or four quotes are acceptable before audiences start to tune out.
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Practice Your Delivery. If you’re speaking at a graduation event, rehearse how you’ll present the quote. Emphasizing the right syllables can significantly enhance the quote’s impact. Consider the difference:
- Ask not what your country can do for YOU — ask YOU can do for your country.
- Ask not what YOUR COUNTRY can do for you — ask what you can do for YOUR COUNTRY.
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Match the Recipient’s Personality. When sharing a quote, consider the balance of their sense of humor and their seriousness about life.
If they appreciate humor, opt for a clever or funny quote. For someone who takes graduation seriously, choose a thought-provoking quote to honor their achievement.
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Be Creative with Your Delivery. Think of unique ways to introduce your quote or the individual it’s attributed to when speaking.
Can you incorporate a joke or relate the person to the school or topic? Adding a touch of creativity makes your speech more memorable.
For cards, consider presenting the quote in a stylish font on quality paper for the graduate to keep as a memento. You could also frame it, inscribe it in a notebook, or print it on a mug.
Graduation Quotes FAQ
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What do you write in a teenage graduation card?
Include a quote, a note of congratulations, and some words of encouragement in a teenage graduation card. High school graduates are about to embark on a new chapter in their lives, which can be daunting.
Use this opportunity to inspire them with a quote, congratulate them on their achievements, and highlight a quality you admire in them or express your belief in their potential.
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What do you say to high school graduates?
Say, “Congratulations,” “Well done,” or “We’re so proud of you,” to high school graduates. They have worked hard to earn their diplomas, and it’s important to acknowledge their effort. Regardless of whether they plan to pursue higher education or enter the workforce, encourage them in their future endeavors.
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What is the best graduation message?
Some of the best graduation messages include, “Best of luck on your new beginnings,” and “We’re so proud of you and honored to celebrate graduation with you.” Other encouraging messages to share with a recent graduate are:
- “Life is a journey, and only you hold the map.”
- “Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you will go.”
- “I can’t wait to see what’s next in your journey.”
- “Caps off to you, Grad.”
References
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
