50 Best Graduation Quotes to Inspire and Honor the Class of 2023

Summary: This is a post that shares more than 50 unique happy graduation quotes. There are inspirational, short, funny, high school and college graduation quotes that you can send to your friends and yourself.

three graduation card templates of fotor

As the class of 2023 embarks on their journey into the next phase of their lives, it's a time of reflection, celebration, and inspiration. Graduation marks a significant milestone in one's academic and personal growth, and it's important to commemorate this achievement with words that capture the essence of this momentous occasion.

Whether you're a graduate looking for the perfect graduation quotes to include in your graduation speech or a friend or family member seeking to honor a graduate, we've compiled a collection of the best graduation quotes to inspire, motivate, and celebrate the class of 2023. Come and check it!

High School Graduation Quotes

High school graduation is exciting, and it inspires hope for the future. Encourage them with these upbeat high school graduation quotes that are perfect for graduation congratulations cards - just paste them inside your customized card.

  • "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
  • "Your time is limited, don't waste it living someone else's life." - Steve Jobs
  • "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
  • "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
  • "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." —Malcolm X
  • "If I must give any of you advice it would be say yes. Say yes, and create your own destiny." —Maya Rudolph
  • "Be the hardest working person you know. Because if you’re not, someone else will be." —Ian Brennan
  • "I am here to tell you that whatever you think your dream is now, it will probably change. And that's okay." —Conan O'Brien

College Graduation Quotes

All that hard work throughout four years has finally paid off! With a perfectly-chosen college quotes for graduation (or two, or three), help your graduate celebrate and reflect upon this amazing accomplishment — and prepare them for the next chapter.

  • "The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse." - Edward Koch
  • "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." - B.B. King
  • "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead." - Nora Ephron
  • "The road to success is always under construction." - Lily Tomlin
  • "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X
  • "I celebrate you as you remember the power of grace and pride, and I challenge you to choose freedom over fear." —Janelle Monáe
  • "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." —Henry David Thoreau
  • "The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change." —Maya Angelou

Funny Graduation Quotes

As a graduate, are you overwhelmed with emotions? Graduating from high school or college is a big moment, and it can be filled with excitement and bittersweet feelings. Keep it light with these fun graduation quotes. Put a big smile on your faces before you start the next chapter of your lives!

  • "Now that you've graduated, just remember: Bosses don't usually accept notes from your mother." - Melanie White
  • "Graduation: where you trade the agony of writing term papers for the agony of writing resumes." - Greg Tamblyn
  • “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.” —Betty Reese
  • “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs . . . one step at a time.” —Joe Girard
  • “The road to success is always under construction.” —Lily Tomlin
  • “Don’t allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on sunglasses.” —Lady Gaga

Inspirational Graduation Quotes

Graduation can be considered the first day of a graduate's new life. Make it a day of confidence and inspiration with these inspiring quotes ideal for graduation congratulations cards that can help keep us inspired in our work.

  • "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larson
  • "Don't watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going." - Sam Levenson
  • "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
  • "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
  • "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Albert Schweitzer
  • "Frustration, although quite painful at times, is a very positive and essential part of success. —Bo Bennett

Short Graduation Quotes

Sometimes, short and sweet is the way to go. Here are 10 short quotes for graduation to get you started. Often, they might even summarize exactly what you want to say in a simple, sweet way.

  • "The best is yet to come." - Frank Sinatra
  • "Dream big and dare to fail." - Norman Vaughan
  • "Chase your dreams, but always know the road that'll lead you home again." - Tim McGraw
  • "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." - Henry David Thoreau
  • "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." - Confucius
  • “Be bold, be courageous, be your best.” —Gabrielle Giffords
  • “There is no script. Live your life. Soak it all in.” —Dick Costolo
  • “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” —Confucius
  • “Follow your fear.” —Tina Fey
  • “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” —Milton Berle

Proud Graduation Quotes

No matter how great an academic achievement you've had, if you make it to graduation, that's something to be proud of. Inspire yourself with these proud graduation quotes.

  • "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
  • “Every day is a new opportunity to change your life and be who you want to be.” —Demi Lovato
  • "Don't be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered." —Michelle Obama
  • "Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own." —Michelle Obama
  • "I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself." —Emma Stone
  • "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
  • “It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine.” —Eeyore

Wisdom Quotes About Life

Graduation has a funny way of making us reflect on our lives: what’s behind and what’s to come. If your graduate is looking ahead and wondering how their life will turn out, share these wisdom and insightful quotes about life with them.

  • "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
  • "Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." - Charles R. Swindoll
  • "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
  • "Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations." - Jean Paul Richter
  • "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." - Oprah Winfrey

How to Add Graduation Quotes to Graduation Cards in Fotor

add text to photo with Fotor

Fotor

Powerful AI-driven editing tools like background remover, AI enlarger, object remover, text, signature, and logo watermarks, etc.

Over 100,000+ ready-to-use templates and creative content for graphic design and photo collages.

Add Graduation Quotes to Cards

After selecting and knowing what to say in a graduation card, and it’s time to add these happy graduation quotes to it. You can try Fotor’s graduation card maker to make everything done beautifully if you want to create a special graduation card.

Fotor offers you various graduation card templates that you can use to make a special card to express your congratulation, support, and care to the receivers. Besides, you can use its powerful AI design tools to turn your happy graduation ideas into reality. Here is how to add graduation quotes to the graduation cards with Fotor.

edit a graduation card in fotor
  • Switch to Fotor’s graduation card maker.
  • Search the graduation card template you like in the library, and pick up one you prefer.
  • Click the download button in the upper right corner of the canvas to download your design in the desired format.

Conclusion

In this article, we have shared 50 best graduation quotes with you to celebrate your graduation, including funny, inspirational, short and proud graduation quotes for high school and college. Choose the quote for graduation that resonates with you the most, add it to your graduation cards, speeches, or gifts, and let it serve as a reminder of the incredible journey that lies ahead. Congratulations to the class of 2023!