60 Powerful High School Graduation Quotes

Graduate 1: “Ah! The day is finally here. I did it! I’m so excited!”

Graduate 2: “The high school is over and I’m so confused and nervous.”

Graduate 3: “Are we done? Really? I mean I don’t even remember what I studied!!”

Can you relate to any of the above emotions? Well, this is normal, and trust me graduation is the day of a whirlwind of emotions. Some of you may be confused and anxious about what is going to be ahead in life while some of you may be waiting for this day to finally embark on a journey towards your passion. 

To cheer up and make the day of graduation a little more exciting, inspiring, and fulfilling, this post brings you a number of quotes to use and make the celebration unforgettable. There are enough quotes for everyone to relate to whatever you may be feeling right now as you’re graduating. So, let’s dive into the world of beautiful yet inspiring words and phrases below.

Motivational quotes for high school graduation

As you step into the world beyond these walls, embrace the future and opportunities with courage and determination. So, my dear friend, get up because you only can walk the road for your own self. Meanwhile, check below the inspirational quotes to cheer yourself and your near and dear ones.

1. “Now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here.” —Neil Gaiman

2. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have you, you will never, ever have enough.” —Oprah

3. “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

4. “You will stumble and fall, you will experience both disaster and triumph, sometimes in the same day. But it’s really important to remember that like a hangover, neither triumphs nor disasters last forever.” —Helen Mirren

5. “No job or task is too small or beneath you. If you want to get ahead, volunteer to do the things no one else wants to do, and do it better.” —Bobbi Brown

6. “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

7. “As you graduate, as you deal with your excitement and your doubts today, I urge you to try and create the world you want to live in. Minister to the world in a way that can change it. Minister radically in a real, active, practical, get your hands dirty way.” —Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

8. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” —Henry David Thoreau

9. “It’s the choice. You have to wake up every day and say ‘There’s no reason today can’t be the best day of my life.'” —Blake Lively

10. “I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.” —Maya Angelou

11. So, I say to you, forget about the fast lane. If you really want to fly, just harness your power to your passion. Honor your calling. Everybody has one. Trust your heart and success will come to you. – Oprah Winfrey

12. The only thing you can do in this life is pursue your passions, celebrate your bloopers, and never stop following your fear. – Grace Helbig

13. You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result. — Mahatma Gandhi

14. Don’t underestimate the power of your dreams. — Corinna Kong

15. Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world right in the eye. – Helen Keller

“Proud of you” high school graduation quotes

As it is important to embrace the journey, it is as crucial to celebrate the little milestones you achieve in between because that is what drives the motivation to keep going and achieve more and more. With the same spirit, given below are some quotes to celebrate your achievement of graduating high school. 

1. “Remember this: You are awesome. I’m not suggesting you be boastful. No one likes that in men or women. But I am suggesting that believing in yourself is the first necessary step to coming even close to achieving your potential.” —Sheryl Sandberg

2. “Don’t ever doubt yourselves or waste a second of your life. It’s too short and you’re too special.” —Ariana Grande

3. “Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.” —Michelle Obama

4. “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

5. My wish for you is that this life becomes all that you want it to. Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small and that you never need to carry more than you can hold. – Rascal Flatts

6. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. — A.A. Milne

7. “There’s nothing and no one that can stop you from changing the world. I see you. You’re unstoppable.” – Alicia Keys

8. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and don’t be afraid to fail. The world needs that unique perspective that only you can bring.” – Drew Houston

9. “Your time is now. Start where you stand and never back down.” – Oprah Winfrey

10. “Success is not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” – Zig Ziglar

11. “Success is not measured by what you accomplish, but by the opposition you have encountered and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.” – Orison Swett Marden

12. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” – Zig Ziglar

13. “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

14. “Success is not how high you have climbed, but how you make a positive difference to the world.” – Roy T. Bennett

15. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and don’t be afraid to fail. The world needs that unique perspective that only you can bring.” – Drew Houston

Inject some laughter with funny graduation quotes

Then there comes those who can’t control their laughter even in serious situations. It is always good to laugh a little in every situation because as they say, laughter is a good medicine, so, at least it has something to offer. While your celebration plans are ready, check out the following funny graduation quotes to sprinkle some laughter to add flavor to the atmosphere.

1. “Each year at graduation, I am obliged to offer a few “brief remarks,” which are usually not as brief as they should be.” – James E. Ryan

2. “Every year, many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you.” – John Green

3. “Graduation: A ritual event where they award you a diploma, in the hope that you have learned enough to be able to read it.” – Unknown

4. “I could have said something profound, but you would have forgotten it in 15 minutes – which is the afterlife of a graduation speech.” – Art Buchwald

5. “As you set off into the world, don’t be afraid to question your leaders. But don’t ask too many questions at one time or that are too hard because your leaders get tired and/or cranky.” – Will Ferrell

6. “Your families are extremely proud of you. You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.” – Gary Bolding

7. “A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that “individuality” is the key to success.” – Robert Orben

8. “If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you.” – Muhammad Ali

9. “The trouble with learning from experience is that you never graduate.” — Doug Larson

10. “You will find the key to success under the alarm clock.” — Benjamin Franklin

11. “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 Baker

12. “My dear terrified graduates, you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives. – Lin Manuel Miranda

13. “Now that you’ve graduated, just remember: Bosses don’t usually accept notes from your mother.” — Melanie White

14. “In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.” – Tom Bodett

15. “This wasn’t like High School Musical at all.” – Unknown

“This is not the end but a new beginning” graduation quotes

Graduating from high school is not the end but a new beginning. To reach somewhere, you need to pass and leave the places behind and this is what the journey is meant to be. So, with the following quotes, embrace this achievement that you made this far, and likewise, there are miles to go.

1. “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.” —Stephen Colbert

2. “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. You cannot dream of becoming something you do not know about. You have to learn to dream big. Education exposes you to what the world has to offer, to the possibilities open to you. – Sonia Sotomayor

4. “There may be days when you’ll say to yourself, ‘I can’t. I literally can’t even.’ But you can! You can even!” — Katie Couric

5. If you can do what you do best and be happy, you are further along in life than most people. – Leonardo DiCaprio

6. Nobody likes to fail, but failure is an essential part of life and of learning. If your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game. – Ben Bernanke

7. Everything’s always ending. But everything’s always beginning, too. — Patrick Ness

8. Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. —Dr. Seuss

9. If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. – Nora Roberts

10. No, sky is not the limit. It is only the beginning. — Donovan Livingston

11. There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. — C.S. Lewis

12. “Your life is your story, and the adventure ahead of you is the journey to fulfill your own purpose and potential.” – Kerry Washington

13. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela

14. “Showing up is 80 percent of life.” – Woody Allen

15. “Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose.” – Chadwick Boseman

Summing up

Quotes are just a few words weaved together in such a way that it gives out the message so efficiently that even long paragraphs are not able to do so. Graduation, an important part of every student’s life, has different meanings for everyone. From funny quotes to inspiring quotes about life after high school, one can easily find the relatable quote in the above collection. So, go read them and immerse yourself in the world of quotes, and enliven the moment.