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 graduation—a new departure. Words that inspire courage and hope (41–50)
Dreams—nothing else creates the future.Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo, a quintessential 19th-century French writer who portrayed human dignity and social ideals through novels, poetry, and drama, left works that are still read around the world today.
At the core of his creative vision lies the belief that the future is not something granted, but something you draw for yourself.
Graduation is a milestone, and at the same time a starting point for shaping a new life.
When anxiety about reality consumes our hearts, our steps grow heavy, but the ideals we envision show us the way forward.
This famous quote teaches us that having a dream inspires action and gives form to the future.
If you try, you can achieve it; if you don’t, nothing will be accomplished.Uesugi Yōzan
Uesugi Yozan is known as a leader who successfully reformed domain governance during the Edo period and revived his impoverished domain.
Even amid severe financial difficulties and widespread opposition, he changed the situation through repeated action.
After graduation, you may face realities that don’t go as planned.
What matters then is not giving up on results from the start, but first taking action.
Action may come with failures, but nothing changes if you do nothing.
This quote encourages execution, showing that a persistent willingness to take on challenges is what opens the way forward.
There is no path that lets me live more than this one; I will walk this path.Saneatsu Mushanokōji
Known as a literary figure who published works on themes of how to live and self-esteem, profoundly influencing many young people, Saneatsu Mushanokōji’s commitment to living true to himself has not faded with time.
As graduation approaches, we may waver over our path and choices, feeling anxious when we compare ourselves to others.
Yet what truly matters is not other people’s standards, but choosing a path you can embrace with conviction.
The resolve to keep walking the road you’ve chosen once gives your life meaning and strength.
It’s a grounded, quietly supportive maxim that fortifies your self-trust.
Those who do not advance will surely fall back, and those who do not retreat will surely advance.Yukichi Fukuzawa
Yukichi Fukuzawa, regarded as a thinker who laid the foundations of modern Japan, spread the importance of education and the spirit of self-reliance, influencing the way many people live.
He was a figure who foresaw the tides of change and taught that a continual commitment to learning is what opens the way to the future.
Graduation is not a signal to stop; it is a moment that asks whether you are ready to keep moving forward.
If you change nothing and remain as you are, you may find yourself falling behind without noticing.
Even with small steps, as long as you do not stop, you will surely make progress.
These are words that encourage courage in action and inspire growth.
Be true to the dreams of your youth.Friedrich von Schiller
Friedrich von Schiller, the German man of letters who explored the themes of ideal and freedom in his poems and plays, had a profound impact on the spirit of young people.
He was someone who valued the passions that dwell within the human heart.
The aspirations and longings we hold in our youth tend to fade with age, yet they are also the driving force of life.
As we approach graduation, we are often drawn to practical choices, and anxiety may tempt us to let go of our dreams.
However, by continuing to trust the wishes deep within our hearts, the path we take begins to gain meaning.
This is a hopeful quote that conveys the value of moving forward without forgetting our first resolve.
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.