Celebrate the grad in your life with this unique collection of graduation quotes and sayings!
They’ve studied, they’ve got their cap and gown, and the day is finally here: graduation! No matter what, graduation is a big deal. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. It's a time to celebrate achievements, reflect on the past, and look forward to the future. Whether you're congratulating a loved one on their high school or college graduation, a heartfelt message can go a long way in showing your support and pride.
However, finding the right words can be challenging. Lucky for you, there’s an endless supply of famous graduation quotes. From inspirational graduation quotes to funny sayings, these thoughtful messages will make the perfect addition to your greeting card, social post, or gift voucher.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab a pen and get ready to discover our best 90 Graduation Quotes and Sayings!
INSPIRATIONAL GRADUATION QUOTES
For many of us, graduation is an exciting time. However, it can also be a time of doubt and uncertainty. These inspirational quotes have the power to uplift, motivate, and drive individuals as they begin the next chapter of their lives!
1. “Don't be afraid. Be focused, be determined, be hopeful, be empowered.” – Michelle Obama
2. “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
3. “Your inexperience is an asset in that it will make you think in original, unconventional ways. Accept your lack of knowledge and use it as your asset.” – Natalie Portman
4. “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.” – Mark Twain
5. “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis
6. “The only thing you can do in this life is pursue your passions, celebrate your bloopers and never stop following your fear.” – Grace Helbig
7. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” – Malcolm X
8. “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” – George Bernard Shaw
9. “You’re going to fall down, but the world doesn’t care how many times you fall down, as long as it’s one fewer than the number of times you get back up.” – Aaron Sorkin
10. “Be bold, be courageous, be your best.” – Gabrielle Giffords
EMPOWERING GRADUATION QUOTES AND SAYINGS
Graduation is a scary time. Put your graduate’s mind at ease with these empowering quotes that will inspire them to work hard and never give up.
11. “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
12. “All of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
13. “Now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for you being here.” – Neil Gaiman
14. “You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” – Dr. Seuss
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15. “Follow your passion. Stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost, and you see a path. By all means, you should follow that.” – Ellen DeGeneres
16. “You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once, but 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
17. “Go make your big, beautiful dent, and as you do so come down on the side of boldness. If you err, may it be for too much audacity, and not too little. For you really are enough. You have untold strengths and resources inside. You have your glorious self.” – Sue Monk Kidd
FUNNY QUOTES FOR GRADUATION
Sure, we all love a good inspirational quote, but life’s too short to be serious all the time! Put a smile on their face with these humorous quotes and sayings.
18. “If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” – Muhammad Ali
19. “The best advice I can give anybody about going out into the world is this: Don’t do it. I have been out there. It is a mess.” – Russell Bake
20. “All my life, I always wanted to be somebody. Now I see that I should have been more specific.” – Jane Wagner
21. “If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.” – Steven Wright
22. “To those of you who received honors, awards, and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you too may one day be President of the United States.” – George W. Bush
23. “Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas.” – Paula Poundstone
24. “At graduation you get to wear a cap and gown, but it's a good idea to also wear something underneath it.” – Greg Tamblyn
25. “Every year, many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you.” – John Green
26. “You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today.” – Tom and Ray Magliozzi
27. “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.” – Betty Reese
28. “Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself.” – Mark A. Cooper
29. “Now that you’ve graduated, just remember: Bosses don’t usually accept notes from your mother.” – Melanie White
SHORT GRADUATION QUOTES
You don’t need a lot of long, complicated words to celebrate their graduation. Include these short and sweet quotes inside a greeting card or pair them with an unforgettable experience gift!
30. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
31. “School’s out for summer, school’s out forever!” – Alice Cooper, School’s Out
32. “There are no regrets in life. Just lessons.” – Jennifer Aniston
33. “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
34. “Share your sparkle wherever you are.” – Dodinsky
35. “Follow your arrow, wherever it points.” – Kacey Musgraves
36. “Follow your passion. It will lead you to your purpose.” – Oprah Winfrey
37. “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” – Nora Ephron
38. “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” – Audrey Hepburn
39. “Accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself.” – Harvey Fierstein
40. “Today’s accomplishments were yesterday’s impossibilities.” – Robert H. Schuller
41. “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi
42. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
43. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
44. “Persistence is the most powerful force on earth, it can move mountains.” – Albert Einstein
45. “A great accomplishment shouldn't be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.” – Harvey Mackay
46. “Why fit in when you were born to stand out?” – Dr. Seuss
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION QUOTES
Whether their next step is college or a career, these thoughtful quotes are a great way to celebrate the high school grad in your life!
47. “It is you, the young and fearless at heart, the most diverse and educated generation in our history, who the nation is waiting to follow.” – Barack Obama
48. “Buckle up, you have good times and rough seas ahead. It is just part of life, but enjoy the ride and laugh a lot.” – Ree Drummond
49. “Understand that one day you will have the power to make a difference, so use it well.” – Mindy Kaling
50. “You don’t have to be fearless, just don’t let the fear stop you” – Charlie Day
51. “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” – Judy Garland
52. “Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.” – Mark Amend
53. “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.“ – Malcolm X
54. “My wish for you is that life becomes all that you want it to. Your dreams stay big and your worries stay small. You never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you’re out there getting to where you’re getting to. I hope you know somebody loves you. And wants the same things too.” – Rascal Flatts
55. “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman
56. “The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse.” – Edward Koch
COLLEGE GRADUATION QUOTES
For many students, college is the end goal. It’s the last step before they enter the real world and reach for the stars. Wish them well and calm their nerves with these inspirational quotes and sayings!
57. “Set out each day believing in your dreams. Know without a doubt that you were made for great things.” – Josh Hinds
58. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs
59. “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” – T. H. Huxley
60. “Do all the other ambitious things—travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes…but as you do, err in the direction of kindness.” – George Saunders
61. “Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman
62. “I’m continually trying to make choices that put me out of my own comfort zone. As long as you’re uncomfortable it means you’re growing.” – Ashton Kutcher
63. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
64. “Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.” – Kerry Washington
65. “We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character–that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
66. “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
GRADUATION SAYINGS FOR YOUR SON
You’ve raised him, you’ve watched him grow, and you couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s become. Congratulate your son and inspire all of his future endeavors with these heartfelt quotes!
67. “Kid, you’ll move mountains.” – Dr. Seuss
68. “You don’t have to be famous. You just have to make your mother and father proud of you, and you already have.” – Meryl Streep
69. “There will be times when your best isn’t good enough. There can be many reasons for this, but as long as you give your best, you’ll be OK.” – Robert De Niro
70. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
71. “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” – David Brinkley
72. “If I have a monument in this world, it is my son.” – Maya Angelou
73. “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” – Albert Einstein
74. “Sometimes when I need a miracle, I look into my son’s eyes, and realize I’ve already created one.” – Unknown
75. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
76. “Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
77. “Real men don’t dance to other people’s tune, instead, they play for others to dance.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
78. “The mind of man is capable of anything.” – Joseph Conrad
79. “Son, you will outgrow my lap, but never my heart.” – Unknown
GRADUATION QUOTES FOR YOUR DAUGHTER
The day is here: your beautiful daughter is graduating! Inspire her to embrace new opportunities with these famous quotes.
80. “You have what it takes to be a victorious, independent, fearless woman.” – Tyra Banks
81. “She believed she could, so she did.” – R. S. Grey
82. “You're off to great places. Today is your day. Your mountain is waiting. Go, get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss
83. “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
84. “Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.” – Stephanie Bennet Henry
85. “All the dreams I prayed you’d be, are all the things you are. You were once my little girl, and now my shining star.” – Unknown
86. “To all the little girls… never doubt that you are valuable and powerful, and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.” – Hillary Clinton
87. “If you truly pour your heart into what you believe in, even if it makes you vulnerable, amazing things can and will happen.” – Emma Watson
88. “I’m not going to continue knocking that old door that doesn’t open for me. I’m going to create my own door and walk through that.” – Ava Duvernay
89. “A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform.” – Diane Mariechild
90. “And though she be but little, she is fierce.” – Shakespeare
No matter which quote you choose, these 90 sayings are sure to inspire and uplift all of the graduates in your life! Whether they’ve just completed middle school, high school, or college, use these quotes to celebrate their success. Still looking for the perfect gift to pair with your quote? Surprise them with something they’ll never forget: an experience gift!
