Inspiring Graduation Quotes

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.

Ella Fitzgerald

Inspirational, Graduation, Giving Up

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If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined...

Henry David Thoreau

Inspirational, Life, Motivational

"Walden". Book by Henry David Thoreau, 1854.

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Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.

Dr. Seuss

Life, Smile, Graduation

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All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.

Walt Disney

Inspirational, Life, Motivational

"How to Be Like Walt : Capturing the Magic Every Day of Your Life". Book by Pat Williams, 2004.

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The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Inspirational, Change, Positive

Quoted in Providence Journal-Bulletin, 8 June 1994

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Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.

Oprah Winfrey

Inspirational, Graduation, Education

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Life is not easy for anyone. Sometimes you don't see the challenges on the outside, but every single one of us has both those and everything that goes on inside as well. Give it your all. Dare to be all you can be.

Hillary Clinton

Inspiring, Graduation, Giving

"36 Inspiring Graduation Speeches From Your Fave Celebs" by Kristin Koch, www.seventeen.com. June 11, 2018.

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Make glorious and fantastic mistakes.

Neil Gaiman

Graduation, Mistake, Graduates

Neil Gaiman's Commencement Address at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, www.uarts.edu. May 17, 2012.

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Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here.

Neil Gaiman

Graduation, Interesting, World

Neil Gaiman (2016). “The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction”, p.418, Hachette UK

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Those who matter don't mind, and those who mind don't matter.

Bernard Baruch

Inspirational, Funny, Life

258 Copy quote
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss

Graduation, Encouraging, Being Single

Dr. Seuss (2017). “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”, p.7, HarperCollins UK

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You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

Dr. Seuss

Graduation, Being Single, Self Confidence

Dr. Seuss (2017). “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”, p.7, HarperCollins UK

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Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

Steve Jobs

Love, Inspirational, Life

Commencement Address at Stanford University, delivered 12 June 2005, Palo Alto, CA

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Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.

Steve Jobs

Inspirational, Life, Motivational

Commencement Address at Stanford University, delivered 12 June 2005, Palo Alto, CA

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To those of you who received honours, awards and distinctions, I say, well done. And to the C students, I say, you too can be president of the United States.

George W. Bush

Funny, Graduation, Humor

"Bad results?" by Nikki Sheehan, www.theguardian.com. June 11, 2001.

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To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.

e. e. cummings

Inspirational, Motivational, Graduation

"A Miscellany (A Poet's Advice to Students)". Book by E. E. Cummings edited by George James Firmage, 1958.

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Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

Steve Jobs

Inspirational, Motivational, Inspiring

Commencement Address at Stanford University, delivered 12 June 2005, Palo Alto, CA

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The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse.

Ed Koch

Success, Graduation, Education

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Do not follow where the path may lead.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Graduation, Travel, Adventure

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You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.

Dr. Seuss

Life, Graduation, Confidence

Theodor Seuss Geisel, “Oh, The Places You'll Go”

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Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.

Steve Jobs

Graduation, Heart, Stanford University

Commencement Address at Stanford University, delivered 12 June 2005, Palo Alto, CA

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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

Inspirational, Graduation, Mistake

Neil Gaiman's Commencement Address at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, www.uarts.edu. May 17, 2012.

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My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out.

Ruth Westheimer

Graduation, Moving, Animal

"‘Other People’s Rejection Letters’: 8 Of The Craziest Rejection Letters" by Bill Shapiro, www.huffingtonpost.com. May 11, 2010.

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Never follow anyone else's path, unless you're in the woods and you're lost.

Ellen DeGeneres

Graduation, Funny Inspirational, Funny Motivational

"12 Inspiring Graduation Speeches by Amazing Women" by Kelly Conniff, time.com. May 18, 2014.

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It is clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and get back home by six o'clock.

Woody Allen

Life, Graduation, Home

Woody Allen (2007). “The Insanity Defense: The Complete Prose”, Random House Incorporated

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