Graduation speeches express gratitude to the school staff, reminisce about the past years, and inspire and motivate students for the future. They often include quotes from famous people to add credibility to what is said. Graduation speech quotes are often the most memorable part of the speech.
Commencement ceremony speeches usually include words of motivation and inspiration for the students who are about ready to move on to another school, a job, or the next state in life. Speakers can offer their perspectives, but their speeches are a perfect opportunity to incorporate the wisdom of others to make a point even more profound with graduation speech quotes.
What Do You Say In A Graduation Speech?
In any good commencement speech, you will want to introduce yourself, greet those in attendance, thank people for coming, and then start your speech. The body of your address should have just a few main points. Often, this part of the speech involves some stories. Just be sure that what you are saying all ties together in some main idea.
Of course, you will want to bring the speech together and then offer a conclusion. Make certain that you have brought closure to your speech. One can advise the graduates, offer motivational thoughts, or wish everyone luck as they enter the future.
You can introduce a quote at any point in the speech, although you should use them sparingly.

What Do I Say To Start A Graduation Speech?
Graduation speeches typically start by greeting everyone. Here is an example of a brief introduction.
“Friends, family members, fellow graduates, and esteemed faculty, it is my distinct pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to you today on this significant occasion.”
How Are Quotes Useful In Graduation Speeches?
Quotes can add a lot to a graduation speech. They can help you to impart words of wisdom and inspire motivation. Whether you are speaking at a high school graduation or a college commencement, using inspirational graduation quotes is a lovely way to round out a speech.
- Humor: Funny graduation quotes can impart humor into the speech. Though commencement is a serious occasion, sometimes it is nice to lighten things up.
- Motivational Quotes: Motivational quotes can be used to inspire you to some action.
- Persistence: Sometimes life can be scary, so quotes about sticking with things can be helpful in a speech.
- True to Yourself: Often, young people feel a bit lost as they navigate life’s path. It is common to hear quotes about staying true to your convictions.
What Are Good Graduation Speech Quotes?
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” —Benjamin Franklin
“..and when you run away from fear, you also run away from the opportunity to be your best possible self.” —Ed Helms
“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
“Believing in yourself is the first necessary step to coming even close to achieving your potential.” —Sheryl Sandberg
“But it’s really important to remember that like a hangover, neither triumphs nor disasters last forever.” —Helen Mirren
“Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered.” —Michelle Obama

“Don’t just get involved. Fight for your seat at the table. Better yet, fight for a seat at the head of the table.” – Barack Obama
“Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela
“I encourage you to live with life. Be courageous, adventurous. Give us a tomorrow, more than we deserve.” —Maya Angelou
“It doesn’t matter that your dream came true if you spent your whole life sleeping.” —Jerry Zucker
“It is impossible to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K. Rowling
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” —E. E. Cummings
“My dear terrified graduates, you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda
“Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” —Mark Twain
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” —Arthur Ashe
“So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t failed, and you’re not some loser.” —Stephen Colbert
“Success is only meaningful and enjoyable if it feels like your own.” —Michelle Obama
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” —Winston Churchill
“That clock you hear is the sound of your own heart. Sink your teeth into this life, and don’t get let go.” —Lin-Manuel Miranda

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
“The most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and not to give in to peer pressure to try to be something that you’re not, to live your life as an honest and compassionate person, to contribute in some way.” – Ellen Degeneres
“The old rules are crumbling, and nobody knows what the new rules are. So make up your own rules.” —Neil Gaiman
“The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces.” —Will Rogers
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” —C.S. Lewis
“There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” —Albert Einstein
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Whatever you think your dream is now, it will probably change. And that’s okay.” – Conan O’Brien
“Worry is like a rocking chair—it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” —Erma Bombeck
“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” —Oscar Wilde
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” —Dr. Seuss
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” —Nora Ephron
“Your path is your character defining itself more and more every day like a photograph coming into focus.” —Jodie Foster
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” —Steve Jobs