110 Best Graduation Quotes to Inspire and Congratulate the Class of 2024
These graduation sayings are the perfect words of wisdom for new grads in 2024.
When your baby finally graduates, whether it’s high school, college, or a higher degree, there’s always a wave of emotions that comes with it — along with plenty of gifts and cards. Those moments call for the perfect graduation quotes to inspire your graduate. There are funny graduation quotes that are sure to make them laugh out loud and graduation Bible verses that will reaffirm their faith as they set out on their next journey. And there’s always graduation wishes and messages to include in a card.
Then there are those quotes that will make your grad stop in their tracks and think, reflect on their education, and picture their lives that lie ahead. These are the quotes that make a card even more special, or honor their graduation day on Facebook or Instagram. They’re also ideal if you’re writing a message in a book that you’re giving to them or if you’re having something personalized. Either way, choose a quote that will hit them right in the feels and get them excited for their upcoming adventure.
We’ve divided these quotes into helpful categories: High School, College, Motivational, Life, and Short, making it even easier for you to pick that just-right quote for the occasion.
Ahead, discover 110 quotes that will make your grad feel loved and appreciated.
High School Graduation Quotes
As the most momentous occasion of their young lives, high school graduates are likely feeling nervous as they cross that threshold between childhood and adulthood. With these quotes, remind them that good things lie ahead, that their education was an important part of their lives, and that they should strive to be present all throughout graduation.
C.S. Lewis
"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Conan O'Brien
“I am here to tell you that whatever you think your dream is now, it will probably change. And that's okay."
Alicia Keys
“There’s nothing and no one that can stop you from changing the world. I see you. You’re unstoppable.”
Malcolm X
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
Barack Obama
“Decide to ground yourself in values that last, like honesty, hard work, responsibility, fairness, generosity, respect for others.”
LeBron James
“It is time to chase every dream, accept every challenge, strive for greatness, honor every promise, and recommit to your community.”
Taylor Swift
"No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind."
Chadwick Boseman
“Savor the taste of your triumphs today, don’t just swallow them all whole without digesting what is actually happening here. Look down over what you conquered and appreciate what God has brought you through.”
Stacey Abrams
"If you can walk away for days, weeks, or years at a time, it is not an ambition, it's a wish. Wishes feel good and rarely come true. Ambition, on the other, fuels your day and refuses to be ignored. It challenges your sense of self and fulfills your sense of wonder."
B.B. King
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
Tory Burch
“We may live in an age of instant messaging, instant gratification, and Instagram, but there is no way to short circuit the path to success.”
Kristian Kan
“In response to those who say to stop dreaming and face reality, I say keep dreaming and make reality.”
Stephen Colbert
"You are about to start the greatest improvisation of all. With no script. No idea what's going to happen, often with people and places you have never seen before. And you are not in control. So say 'yes.' And if you're lucky, you'll find people who will say 'yes' back."
Abraham Lincoln
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Malcom S. Forbes
“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”
Amy Poehler
"You can’t do it alone. Be open to collaboration. Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you. Spend a lot of time with them and it will change your life."
Sandra Bullock
"When someone who loves you hugs you, hug them back with two arms — don’t do the one-arm hug, because when you hug someone with two arms, it allows you to lean on somebody, and we all need someone to lean on."
Stephen Colbert
"If we’d all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses. So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it you haven’t failed and you’re not some loser."
Terri Huggins Hart is an award-winning journalist, lifestyle writer, parenting writer, and race and culture writer who is convinced she's figured out the trick to living life with no regrets: do what you love, give love, lead with love. She's also the writer of an active monthly newsletter sharing tips for motivation and emotional well-being. When not writing, she can be found working out via Zumba or pole dancing, reciting her favorite affirmations and covering her adorable kids in kisses. You can learn more about Terri on her website, TerrificWords.com, or following her on social media @terrificwords.
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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