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 gift at the time of setting off for graduation: words that inspire courage and hope (51–60)
You can just be yourself.Mother Teresa
When you step into society, it’s easy to forget who you are.
In those moments, remember these words from Mother Teresa, who, as a nun, devoted herself to supporting the poor and the sick.
You might be criticized for being yourself, or feel like things don’t go well when you stay true to who you are.
But you are you.
No matter the circumstances, for your own sake, don’t forget to be yourself—stay true to who you are, and keep living as yourself, even in a new place.
While there is life, there is hope.Miguel de Cervantes
No matter how hopeless an event may be, as long as we are alive, we can always rise again in some form.
The person who spoke words that let light shine into such despair was Miguel de Cervantes, the novelist who wrote Don Quixote de la Mancha.
He endured many hardships—living in poverty, being taken captive, and being imprisoned—yet he continued to write as long as he lived.
Precisely because of who he was, his words inspire us to keep trying in any situation, as long as we still have life.
There is no piece that cannot move forward.Makoto Nakahara
Makoto Nakahara, the 16th Lifetime Meijin and a shogi professional who holds five lifetime titles.
Here are words he shared from a shogi player’s unique perspective.
In shogi, the pieces move in many directions—forward, backward, left, right, and diagonally.
Just like those pieces that can advance in any direction, it’s as if he’s telling graduates that from now on they, too, can move forward in any direction.
Even if you find yourself at a standstill, these words give you the strength to face forward, believing that you have the power to keep moving ahead.
Life is one of two things: you either face it with courage, or you throw it away.Helen Keller
When you find it hard to take the first step with courage, try recalling these words.
They are from Helen Keller, who drew on her own experiences to contribute to the education and welfare of people with disabilities.
Having lost her sight and hearing and endured many hardships, her words serve as lessons for living.
If you lack courage and do nothing, you waste your life; but if you face your fears and dare to try, life becomes rich.
Keep these motivating words close to your heart as you pursue your dreams and goals, and let’s bravely take on every challenge!
There is never only one path in human life. There are hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of paths.Ryoma Sakamoto
Ryoma Sakamoto, a leading samurai of the Tosa Domain at the end of the Edo period, remains hugely popular even today.
Hearing these words of his makes me feel I can look at life from a broader perspective.
There’s no need to cling to a single path—thinking, “This is the only way for me,” or “I have to follow this route to achieve my goal.” There might be another path where you can thrive even more, and there may be many different routes to reach your goals.
When you’re stuck because you’re fixated on one thing, remember these words and consider the possibilities of many paths.
Every difficulty holds a gift for you in both hands.Richard Bach
We tend to want to avoid difficulties as much as possible in life.
But what if there were something good to be found within them? These words from Richard Bach—writer and aviator, and author of the bestselling novel Jonathan Livingston Seagull—invite us to see hardship from a different angle.
Just as people often say that good things follow bad, there is some kind of gift waiting beyond the trials we overcome.
His words inspire us to persevere through difficulties for the sake of that gift awaiting us on the other side.
Be consistent from start to finish and push through with sheer courage.Tempū Nakamura
These are the words of Tempu Nakamura, known for founding the Tempukai, an organization that promotes the method of mind-body unification.
When moving forward, when making decisions—at any time—what we need is courage, isn’t it? I believe it’s hard to accomplish anything without courage.
All of you graduates will surely find yourselves hesitating and freezing up in new places.
In those moments, please try to move forward with courage.
It’s okay to fail! As long as you have courage, you can get back up and try again as many times as it takes.
When times are tough, remember these words.
God never gives us trials we cannot overcome.Rikako Ikee
When it comes to Rikako Ikee, she’s a competitive swimmer who achieved numerous remarkable feats, such as making the world championship team as a middle schooler and winning six titles at the Asian Games to earn MVP honors.
Hopes were high for her at the Tokyo Olympics, but in 2019 she was diagnosed with leukemia and stepped away to undergo treatment.
The following year, she showed us she was back in the pool, swimming with vigor.
Knowing that journey helps us understand the feeling behind her words.
Why not offer this famous quote as a protective charm to help the graduates overcome their trials?
My past self will never betray who I am today.Mao Asada
Mao Asada, who helped energize the figure skating world in the 2000s and won a silver medal at the Vancouver Olympics.
This is a quote that seems to embody her single-minded dedication.
Figure skaters face their ever-changing bodies, make constant adjustments, and battle injuries… Many of you probably know that behind those beautiful, fleeting performances lies tremendous effort.
These words, imbued with accumulated hard work and a strong will, are also perfect as a message to send at graduation.
We hope the graduates will spare no effort and boldly carve out their futures with strong hearts.
The hardship you enjoy becomes a remedy for pain.William Shakespeare
Here are some famous quotes by William Shakespeare, the British playwright and poet.
There are probably few people who have never heard the name Shakespeare.
His well-known works include the so-called Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello.
Many of us have likely thought in daily life, “I don’t want to go through this kind of hardship.” These are quotes to remember at such times.
If it’s something you must do, it’s important to find ways to make it even a little enjoyable.
When you get creative and manage to do something a bit better, it can make you feel happy.
Try turning your own ingenuity into enjoyment.
