Short quotes to give at the time of graduation—a send-off. Words that inspire courage and hope.
When you reach the milestone of graduation, having a short quote that resonates can help you walk the new path ahead with a more positive outlook.
In this article, we introduce short quotes perfect for graduation scenes, left by great figures who excelled in various fields.
Because they’re brief, these phrases are easy to recall when you feel lost or anxious—and they’ll gently give you a push forward.
Words about believing in hard work, overcoming trials, and staying true to yourself…
You’re sure to find a quote you’ll want to etch into your heart!
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Short quotes to give at the time of departure called graduation. Words that inspire courage and hope (11–20)
What matters isn’t who you’ve been up to now, but who you’ll be from here on.Ella Fitzgerald
@kevin691111 Words that resonate with the heartTranslationWords that resonate with the heartWords that pierce the heartSelf-Improvement
Original song – Famous quote – Famous quote
Ella Fitzgerald is one of the top jazz vocalists, mentioned alongside Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan.
In 2020, when an article announced the release of her completely unreleased recordings, “Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes,” her fans around the world were abuzz with excitement.
There’s a famous remark about her that conveys a kind of professional spirit: no matter how many hit songs she had or how brilliant a stage she performed on, she was always looking ahead to what’s next.
That refusal to rest on one’s laurels seems like a mindset we’ll need as we step out into the wider world.
A person becomes the kind of person they think themselves to be.Bruce Lee
These are words from Bruce Lee, famous for the film Enter the Dragon.
Bruce Lee left us many sayings, such as “Don’t think.
Feel.” Among them, this one expresses that, for better or worse, we become the person we envision.
If you can picture your ideal self, you’ll naturally begin taking actions to make it a reality—and perhaps become the person you want to be.
It’s one of the messages I hope graduates embarking on a new path will cherish.
Genius is nothing more than a mediocre person who works hard.Albert Einstein
These are the famous words of the German physicist, Albert Einstein.
People may casually call him a “genius,” but in truth, it was by piling up more effort than anyone else that he achieved so many great accomplishments.
His words remind us anew that “genius” refers to those who can keep building on their efforts.
I hope the graduates who are stepping forward toward their dreams and goals will keep these words in their hearts and never hesitate to put in sustained effort.
There’s no bad ending—we’re still in the middle of it.NEW!Naoki Matayoshi
Naoki Matayoshi, who has earned high acclaim in the world of expression—both as a comedian and as a novelist who won the Akutagawa Prize—shared a message in his commencement speech at Kindai University that suggests we don’t have to judge life by a single outcome.
In high school, there were likely times when your efforts didn’t pay off or when you fell short of the results you envisioned.
But those moments are not the end; they are merely steps in the process of moving forward.
It’s a quote that helps you view both your past path and your future in a positive light.
Dripping water hollows stone.NEW!
It teaches us that even small efforts, when continued, can lead to great results.
During high school, there may have been moments when your daily studying or practice didn’t produce the outcomes you hoped for and felt meaningless.
However, those efforts steadily accumulate within you.
Even if results don’t appear right away, your effort is surely moving you forward.
It reminds us of the importance of believing that unseen effort will one day show itself as strength.
It’s a quote that teaches the value of perseverance through studying and club activities.
Fear not the future, cling not to the past, live in the present.NEW!Takafumi Horie
Takafumi Horie, who has taken on numerous ventures as an entrepreneur and influenced society with his unconventional words and actions, actively supports small and medium-sized enterprises and offers new businesses.
His words reflect an attitude of deciding for yourself how to use your time.
You may have had experiences in school where regret over failure or anxiety about the future left you unable to act.
This quote teaches the importance of not overthinking and focusing on what you can do now.
It is a famous saying that gives you the courage to act toward the future.
Short inspirational quotes to give at graduation—the time of departure. Words that evoke courage and hope (21–30)
Keep hope alive.Jesse Jackson
Do you know Barack Obama, the first American president of African and Hawaiian descent? From the moment he took office, an “Obama fever” swept across the United States, and even now there are still many supporters who hope for his return to the presidency.
A forerunner to Obama was Jesse Jackson, who is also famous for being the first African American to be nominated as a presidential candidate.
His words seem to carry a strong preface of “no matter what difficulties you face.” Believe in yourself and keep moving forward—only you can keep your hopes alive.