Quotations to include in words of farewell: moving messages from great figures
Many of you may be thinking of offering heartfelt parting words to someone important before you say goodbye.
Even the great figures who left their mark on history shared moving words at moments of departure.
In this article, we introduce a collection of heartwarming quotes perfect for those precious moments before parting.
Alongside your own words, these gems left by great individuals will gently encourage those setting off on their journey.
Famous quotes to include in words of farewell: moving messages from great figures (1–10)
The greatest adventure for you is to live your dreams.Oprah Winfrey
She is a television host and producer, as well as a philanthropist.
When we think of adventure, it seems like it would require a lot of time and money, but her famous quote tells us that adventure is something we can experience anytime, even outside of those circumstances.
Even in our seemingly unchanging daily lives, there’s plenty of room for adventure, and by becoming aware of our dreams, each day can turn into an adventure.
Thinking of it that way makes each day feel all the more precious, doesn’t it?
The secret to accomplishing things lies in focusing on just one thing.Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, a politician who remains highly popular in the United States and is known as the “Father of Emancipation” and “the greatest president in history.” His famous quote, “The best way to get something done is to focus on one thing,” is an encouraging message for those taking a hopeful new step forward.
Even when people have dreams and goals, they tend to get distracted or worry about things that aren’t where their efforts are truly needed.
But to accomplish anything, you need time to focus.
This quote suggests that, while you don’t have to sacrifice everything else, there are times when you must keep your eyes fixed on the task at hand.
What you need isn’t courage, but resolve. Once you decide, everything begins to move.Ayumu Takahashi
Ayumu Takahashi, a businessman who has also founded various private non-profit organizations.
This famous quote of his carries weight precisely because it comes from someone who has actually done these things.
When we say “courage,” it can include acting recklessly, driven purely by emotion.
But when we say “resolve,” it feels more like steeling yourself—deciding to take responsibility no matter the outcome, and vowing to make it succeed no matter what.
Once you decide firmly in your heart, that decision leads to results.
It’s pretty cool.
Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw, a playwright from Ireland who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925, wrote works such as Pygmalion.
One of his famous quotes says that life is not about finding yourself as a finished product, but about actively creating yourself.
Just hearing this quote makes creating your own life sound exciting, doesn’t it? And the freedom that comes from being able to shape it in any way through your own approach is wonderful.
Any person is capable of more than they think.Henry Ford
Henry Ford, an American entrepreneur known as the founder of Ford Motor and often called the automobile king.
His famous quote, “Every man can do more than he thinks he can,” is sure to give courage to many.
People tend to set limits based on their own experiences and are prone to give up on their dreams and goals.
However, if there’s a chance that your abilities can surpass your own imagination, you’ll feel motivated to try, won’t you? This is an encouraging quote I recommend as a send-off message, especially for those who lack confidence in themselves and should remember it.
Love the life you live. Live the life you love.Bob Marley
Bob Marley is like a god of reggae, and many of his songs sing of love, peace, and freedom.
His songs and the quotes he left behind have supported many people’s hearts, telling us that his way of life and spirit were straightforward and untainted.
This particular quote of his seems to say: if you have time to resent or dislike your life or circumstances, use it to choose, with your own hands, a life and environment you can love.
Chase your dreams—even if you fail, it’s okay. Things will work out somehow.Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou, an activist who was also active as a poet, singer, and actress, took part in the African American civil rights movement from the 1950s to the 1960s.
Her famous quote, “Chase your dreams, and it’s okay to fail — things will work out somehow,” may give overworked people a chance to relax their shoulders.
Perfectionists tend to be especially strict with themselves in pursuit of their dreams, pushing themselves into a corner with thoughts like, “I have to make this happen; if I don’t, everything is over.” But this message reminds us that the experience of chasing a dream is never wasted, and that even if you don’t achieve your goals, there is still plenty of happiness to be found in life.
Humans don’t lose when they’re defeated; they lose when they quit.Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon, an American politician who climbed the ranks from U.S.
Representative and U.S.
Senator to Vice President, ultimately becoming the 37th President.
His famous quote, “A man is not finished when he is defeated.
He is finished when he quits,” carries a compelling resonance with his political life.
In life, there may be times when we fight and lose to someone, but as long as we don’t give up, we can keep pursuing our dreams—this is a message we’d want to offer as words of encouragement.
It’s a quote to give not only to those embarking on a new chapter, but also to those who feel defeated and are on the verge of giving up right now.
There’s no need to look back. There are countless paths ahead of you.Lu Xun
Lu Xun, a Chinese-born thinker who also worked as a novelist and translator, has had his works included in Japanese language textbooks.
His famous quote, “There’s no need to look back—there are countless paths before you,” is a perfect message for anyone about to embark on a new beginning.
Past events that have already happened tend to remain vivid in our hearts and can constrain our minds and actions.
Yet the future holds infinite possibilities, and this saying encourages us to renew our resolve and keep moving forward.
Think carefully. But when the time comes to act, stop thinking and move forward.Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte, a hero of the revolutionary era and the military leader who established a military dictatorship as Emperor of the First French Empire.
His famous quote, “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in,” teaches us the process necessary to achieve something, doesn’t it? If you rush ahead without thought, you’ll encounter many failures; if you overthink and never act, nothing will change.
The message—think carefully about what’s necessary, then charge forward with all your might—serves as an encouraging send-off to anyone heading into a new world.
It’s a perfect parting maxim, made all the more persuasive coming from a revolutionary.