Special Occasions & Events: Graduation Quotes

Celebrate the milestone of graduation with a curated mix of uplifting, thoughtful, and witty quotes. These selections honor hard work, perseverance, and the courage it takes to embrace change, offering encouragement as new chapters begin. Find words to share in speeches, cards, and captions - from timeless wisdom to fresh perspectives by modern voices. Whether you are a graduate, parent, or teacher, these quotes aim to inspire gratitude, confidence, and purpose for the journey ahead.

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"As I matriculate my way down the field of life, I will never forget this moment and you wonderful people who helped make this day possible"

Hank Stram, Athlete

"When Harvard men say they have graduated from Radcliffe, then we've made it"

Jackie Kennedy, First Lady

"I received a D.Sc. from the University of London in 1992"

J. Philippe Rushton, Psychologist

"Really, the potential for, first of all, any college graduate today is enormously good. These are good times for anyone with a college degree today, particularly African Americans. With a college degree today, you really breach the unemployment rate"

Alexis Herman, Public Servant

"The college graduate is presented with a sheepskin to cover his intellectual nakedness"

Robert M. Hutchins, Educator

"Nothing is as easy to make as a promise this winter to do something next summer; this is how commencement speakers are caught"

Sydney J. Harris, Journalist

Sydney J. Harris

"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, President

George W. Bush

"The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture"

John Kenneth Galbraith, Economist

"I got my diploma from Ealing College of Art, in graphics and illustration"

Freddie Mercury, Musician

"A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success"

Robert Orben, Entertainer

"It was a myth that's often perpetuated at commencement that holds that only hope and promise lie beyond the halls of academe. Don't worry, be happy. Everything is fine"

Paul Tsongas, Politician

Paul Tsongas

"A commencement is a time of joy. It is also a time of melancholy. But then again, so is life"

Paul Tsongas, Politician

Paul Tsongas

"Getting through high school and college was one of my greatest achievements"

Ann Bancroft, Explorer

Ann Bancroft

"For my undergraduate work, I went to Oklahoma State University and graduated from there in 1977"

Anita Hill, Professor

Anita Hill

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

Edward Koch, Politician

"I was the first boy in the Kennedy family to graduate from college"

Mark Kennedy, Politician

"In 1858 I received the degree of D. S. from the Lawrence Scientific School, and thereafter remained on the rolls of the university as a resident graduate"

Simon Newcomb, Mathematician

"I went to the Westminster College for Men in Missouri, which is what it was called back then, and transferred to the University of Denver where I ultimately got my degree"

Ted Shackelford, Actor

"If a young person has any idealism at all, it's strongest about the time he finishes college"

Sargent Shriver, Politician

"I studied at the Budapest Academy of Theatrical Arts for four years and emerged with a degree"

Bela Lugosi, Actor

"I was actually valedictorian of my class"

Sydney Sweeney, Actress

Sydney Sweeney

"I received an honorary doctorate for my work. Maybe one of these works is considered the equivalent of a Ph.D"

Iris Chang, Historian

Iris Chang

"I graduated in 1930 and I went up to the Yale Drama School for two years"

Albert Maltz, Author

"In fact, if they didn't let me commute, I would not have taken the role because I wanted to graduate high school with my classmates. I remember my agent's jaw dropping when I told him if I couldn't commute I didn't want the role"

Sarah Chalke, Actress

"If my soccer career were over, I would still come here because of the people. And despite the fact I've had to skip some school for National Team purposes, I am looking forward to holding that Carolina degree as soon as I can get my hands on it"

Lorrie Fair, Athlete

"I have actually five honorary degrees"

Katherine Dunham, Dancer

Katherine Dunham

"I got all my work done to graduate in two months and then they were like, I'm sorry, you have to take driver's ed. I just kind of went, Oh, forget it"

Fiona Apple, Musician

"Yeah, I spent about 20 years in a dorm room. It took me a while to graduate"

Douglas Wilson, Entertainer

"At the end of four years' time, at graduation, we were down to 12. At our reunion that we had several years ago, only 1 out of the 52 actually made it to ordination and priesthood. So there you go, there's your numbers"

Peter Jurasik, Actor

"Those three years ended with June 1933. At that time I left Princeton, having submitted my Ph.D. thesis"

Stephen Cole Kleene, Mathematician

"Interesting enough, we had a reunion of the 12 of us who graduated, right? The only one who wasn't there was the guy who became a priest, and he was literally in prison in Libya, for being a Catholic priest. Isn't that interesting? Everybody else made the reunion but that guy"

Peter Jurasik, Actor

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime event for all of us, something like this"

Berenice Bejo, Actress

"This is a value-added college education if I have heard one described. And what is the most remarkable about Delaware State University graduates - is they just keeping giving back"

Michael N. Castle, Politician

"Just the example Delaware State University graduates set by the way they live their lives, should be an inspiration to other high school students to go to Delaware State"

Michael N. Castle, Politician

"I did graduate with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1948"

Daniel J. Evans, Politician

"Commencement speeches were invented largely in the belief that outgoing college students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated"

G. B. Trudeau, Cartoonist

"After completing a Delaware State education, they were afforded opportunities beyond anything they might have imagined - and they opened doors for themselves that surely would have remained closed if they only had a high school education"

Michael N. Castle, Politician

"We've got a support system that gives our players a wonderful opportunity to graduate. If they go to class and give good effort, they can graduate from this school, and I believe that's important when you go out recruiting"

Steve Spurrier, Coach

"I attended the University of Louisville my freshman year, transferred to what was then Western Kentucky State Teachers College for my sophomore and junior years, and then graduated from the University of Louisville in the summer of 1961"

Sue Grafton, Novelist

"I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991"

Ryan White, Celebrity

Ryan White

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