10 Sentimental Graduation Quotes

Graduation day is always a sentimental one, which is why these sentimental graduation quotes will fit in perfectly with your yearbook signings, commencement speeches, and Facebook posts on the big, special day. These quotes touch on a variety of things, including the strength of real friendships, the power of kindness, and the beauty of humanity. No matter what your sweet spot is, chances are that one of these sentences below will leave you weeping with all the feels.

So who are these sentimental words going to be coming from? I've rounded up quite the lineup. From George Saunders and Dr. Seuss to Steve Jobs and Michelle Obama, I think it's pretty safe to say that the owners of these words know what they're talking about. I mean, you can't really beat the guy responsible for the iPhone, or the first lady of America, can you?

Success in life can mean a lot of things, but at the root of it all, if you aren't helping the world and if you don't have friends to share it with, it can all feel pretty meaningless. Let yourself be sentimental on your graduation day, and then let that sentimentality drive you into an ambitious and loving future.

1. "Just don’t give up trying to do what you really want to do." — Ella Fitzgerald

2. "Do all the other things, the ambitious things — travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes...but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness." — George Saunders

3. "Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival." — C.S. Lewis

4. "And how do you know when you’re doing something right? How do you know that? It feels so. What I know now is that feelings are really your GPS system for life. When you’re supposed to do something or not supposed to do something, your emotional guidance system lets you know. The trick is to learn to check your ego at the door and start checking your gut instead." — Oprah Winfrey

5. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." — Dr. Seuss

6. "Be bold, be courageous, be your best." — Gabrielle Giffords

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

8. "One measure of friendship consists not in the number of things friends can discuss, but in the number of things they need no longer mention." — Clifton Fadiman

9. "Now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art." — Neil Gaiman

10. "You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own." — Michelle Obama

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