Memorable Graduation Quotes

During commencement speeches, graduates will hear a lot of advice from notable speakers as well as some of their peers. Adults often want to impart wisdom through quotes from famous people such as writers, philosophers, politicians and other public figures. While teens don’t always get the messages that grown-ups are trying to convey, some of the quotes they hear at graduation could make a difference in their lives.

Themes for Memorable Graduation Quotes

If you’re selected to give a speech at graduation, you might want to focus on one or two themes for direction. With so many graduation quotes to choose from, you can talk to graduates about topics ranging from the serious to lighthearted. Some quote themes you can build a speech around include:

Inspiration

There are many inspirational quotes geared to fire up graduates to make the most of their young lives. Some people look to others for inspiration, while some look inside themselves. Wherever you find inspiration, there are quotes geared for graduates to not only find inspiration in others, but to be inspirations themselves:

• “Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” - Anthony J. D'Angelo

Future

Naturally, because graduation is not just seen as an ending to high school, but also as the beginning for an exciting new life, the future is a theme you often see in quotes. Teens may see the whole wide world as open and ready to explore. They probably have a large amount of ideas about what they want to do and where they want to go in life. Examples of quotes addressing the future include:

• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt
• “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” - Wayne Dyer

Success

With such a bright future ahead for many graduates, a future that may include college and the possibility of working their dream job, success takes on different meanings for different people. Still, most people know what it means to be successful in their lives. Some memorable graduation quotes about success:

• “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
• “Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.” - Arnold H. Glasow

Friendship

Some of the friends you make in school will be lifelong buddies. Graduation may be one of the last times you’re with all of your friends before heading off to college and separate lives. While that can be a sad thought, friends in today’s society can be just a phone call, e-mail or webcam visit away. Graduation speakers understand the value of friendship as well because some enduring quotes address this theme:

• “School's out, memories past, don't ever doubt, our friendship will last.” - Unknown
• “Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.” - Aristotle

Dreams

Nearly everyone has dreams of what they want to accomplish in life. Some dreams are large, while others are small. Each dream is unique to the dreamer, but they are all valid. Hard work will help the most dedicated reach their dreams, no matter how farfetched they may seem. Quotes addressing dreams include:

• “Think about your dream all the time, no matter what else you’re doing. Live your dream in your imagination. Become obsessed by it. Love it. Be passionate about it.” - Unknown
• “I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.” - Unknown

Important Words

With any luck, graduates will see the wisdom in the quotes they hear at their commencement ceremony. Although the day will be full of excitement, perhaps they’ll listen and take in the messages from some of the notable quotes they hear that day.