Let’s face it — finding the perfect words for a graduation card can feel like you need a degree in poetry, especially if you want to go the extra mile and write a sentimental message that resonates deeply.
Whether you’re celebrating a fresh-faced high school graduate, or cheering on someone who just aced their university dissertation, sometimes you need a little creative backup.
Good news: we’ve done the legwork for you! We’ve scoured speeches, books, and famous quotes to find the best graduation quotes out there. But first, why not check out our amazing selection of graduation cards to pair with your chosen quote?
High school graduation quotes
Finishing secondary school in the UK is a big deal. It’s the end of years spent in school uniform navigating friendship dramas, revising for GCSEs, and counting down the days to study leave.
Whether the graduate is heading off to sixth form, college, an apprenticeship, or taking some time to figure things out — this moment is huge. Hopefully these quotes for graduation will help them look back on their formative years with fondness:
- “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” – Dr. Seuss
- “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
- “If you can do what you do best and be happy, you are further along in life than most people.” — Leonardo DiCaprio
- “I’ve learned it’s important not to limit yourself. You can do whatever you really love to do, no matter what it is.” — Ryan Gosling
- “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” — Albert Einstein
University graduation quotes
The university journey is a rollercoaster — from caffeine-fuelled all-nighters and deadline panics, to hungover studying, and finally, that moment you throw on a cap and gown and realise it was all worth it. Whether you’re looking for words to recognise someone’s dedication, or to cheer them on as they step into the real world, these uni graduation quotes are sure to strike the right chord:
- “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss
- “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
- “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” — Nelson Mandela
- “Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.” — Michael Josephson
Inspirational graduation quotes
Graduation isn’t just an ending — it’s the launchpad for everything that follows. These inspirational graduation quotes will ignite their confidence in stepping into the next big adventure. Whether you want to nudge them about trusting their instincts, or encourage them to chase their ambitions, these lines will inspire them to make the next big steps:
- “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.” — Theodore Roosevelt
- “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible.'” — Audrey Hepburn
- “Life is an improvisation. You have no idea what’s going to happen next and you are mostly just making things up as you go along.” — Stephen Colbert
- “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
- “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.” — Dr. Seuss
Proud graduation quotes
These proud graduation quotes will recognise everything the graduate you’re celebrating has accomplished on their graduation journey — from long study sessions in the library and unexpected setbacks, to the determination that saw them through the hard times. Pick a line that captures how proud you are of all their hard work and resilience:
- “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
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
- “If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.” — Barack Obama
- “The highest reward for your hard work is not what you get for it, but what you become because of it.” — John Ruskin
- “Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” — Matthew L. Jacobson
Funny graduation quotes
Graduation doesn’t always need to be serious. These funny graduation quotes are perfect for anyone who’s ever snoozed an alarm, winged a deadline, or survived on caffeine and pure determination. Whether it’s poking fun at the long road it took to get here, or just dropping a clever one-liner, these short graduation quotes keep things light:
- “Started from the bottom, now we’re here.” — Drake
- “Don’t allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on sunglasses.” — Lady Gaga
- “Don’t take life too seriously; nobody makes it out alive anyway.” — Van Wilder
- “Remember, when it comes to applying for jobs, books are judged by their cover!” — Patricia Akins
- “If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” — Muhammad Ali
Wise graduation quotes
Graduation marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of something entirely new. It’s a moment full of possibility, excitement — and a little uncertainty. That’s why a few wise words can make all the difference. We’ve gathered some of the wisest short graduation quotes to help them reflect and move forward with confidence:
- “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” — C.S. Lewis
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
- “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde
- “The more you learn, the more you realise how much you don’t know.” — David Attenborough
- “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Need help incorporating your quotes for graduation into your card? Check out our guide on what to write in a graduation card for extra help. And if you’re in charge of throwing the graduate a well-deserved party, our graduation party ideas might come in handy, too. Let’s make their tassel twist moment truly memorable!
