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25 Quotes For Graduates From College

Graduation from college seems a weighty milestone, both a great accomplishment and a commencement of adult life.

The switch from college to career can be exciting in many respects, but it can also feel daunting. Whatever obstacles you may now face as one season of life closes and another opens, these life quotes can coach and encourage.

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands — your own.” — Mark Victor Hansen

Identify Words To Live By

One key way to find inspiration as you navigate life’s road in the right direction is to identify words to live by – quotes from a favorite writer or a wise friend, truths you can rely on, or practical quotes from a popular blogger or famous thinker. Keep a list of “Quotes to Live By” in a journal or notebook. By sorting them into categories based on a feeling or occasion, you’ve built yourself a personalized support system to help you overcome any challenge you may face in the future. We’ve got some quotes to start you out.

Coral Red notebook on glass with bag, textbook, and marker and pencil

Words For Working Well

  1. “Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.” -John F Kennedy, president

 

  1. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle, philosopher

 

  1. “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas Edison, inventor

 

  1. “Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you’re a janitor or taking your first summer job because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.” -Tyler Perry, actor and director

 

  1. “Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.”-Denis Waitley

 

Words For Pursuing Your Goals

  1. “Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” -Dalai Lama

 

  1. “Decide whether or not the goal is worth the risks involved. If it is, stop worrying.” -Amelia Earhart

 

  1. “You don’t have to be a fantastic hero to do certain things – to compete. You can be just an ordinary chap, sufficiently motivated to reach challenging goals.” -Edmund Hillary

 

  1. “You can’t hit a home run unless you step up to the plate. You can’t catch a fish unless you put your line in the water. You can’t reach your goals if you don’t try.” -Kathy Seligman

 

  1. “Aim for the moon. If you miss, you may hit a star.” -W. Clement Stone

Words For Making Friends

  1. “All good leaders are connectors. They relate well and make people feel confident about themselves and their leader.” -John Maxwell, author

 

  1. “Everyone you meet knows something you don’t know but need to know. Learn from them.” -C.G. Jung

 

  1. “You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” -A. Milne, in Winnie-the-Pooh

 

  1. “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” -John Holmes

 

  1. “Don’t be afraid of new beginnings. Don’t shy away from new people, new energy, new surroundings. Embrace new chances at happiness.” -Billy Chapata

Words For Times Of Transition

  1. “Transitions in life can offer opportunities for discovery.” -Robbie Shell

 

  1. “The changes we dread most may contain our salvation.” -Barbara Kingsolver 

 

  1. “To think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing.”-Eva Young

 

  1. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” -Conrad Hilton

 

  1. “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” -Socrates, philosopher

Words For Worry

  1. “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” Seneca

 

  1. “Don’t believe everything you think….If you’re feeling anxious or ashamed, ask yourself what thought or assumption is driving that feeling. Frequently, the thought will be flawed.”-Unknown

  

  1. “Do the right thing — the thing that is most consistent with your personal values in a particular moment, even if it’s not the perfect thing. For example, say a friendly hello rather than avoid someone because you’ve forgotten their name.” -Psychology Today

 

  1. “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” -Voltaire, philosopher

 

  1. “When you feel overwhelmed, remember: A little at a time is how it gets done. One thing, one task, one moment at a time.” -Anonymous

 

Even though it may seem counterintuitive in this time of overwhelming transition, taking the time to reflect on these wise words and to think through various elements of your life, such as your mental and physical health, your friendships, and your work can reduce stress and bring you clarity when you need it most!