50 Inspirational Back-to-School Quotes So Your Kids Have the Best Year Ever

Published Jul 11, 2023

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Remember how hard it was to swap those lazy summer days for early mornings, algebra homework and pop quizzes? (Yeah, we're glad that's over.) Going back to school can feel like a chore, but we must admit, there’s some excitement to it, too. After all, nothing hits the spot quite like a fresh batch of school supplies (including 64 shiny new Crayola crayons). Throw in a new wardrobe, backpack, lunchbox and your kid will (hopefully) be waiting in anticipation for the school bus.

To get them in the school spirit, sneak some funny and inspirational words of wisdom (from the likes of Taylor Swift, Zendaya and Amy Poehler) into their notebook—it may win you brownie points. Fortunately, we found 50 back-to-school quotes to motivate your kids for the academic year ahead, so they can reach their full potential.

We Asked Nutritionists to Look at What We Pack Our Kids for Lunch. Yes, Really.

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1. “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” — Oprah Winfrey

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2. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss

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3. “Work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen.” — Conan O’Brien

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4. “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” — Richard Branson

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5. “Take your risks now. As you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible. And I mean that literally. I hurt my knee this week on the treadmill, and it wasn’t even on.” — Amy Poehler

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6. “You must do the things you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

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7. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin

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8. “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” — Lily Tomlin

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9. “Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai

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10. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

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11. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo

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12. “I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” — Jenny Han

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13. “Intelligence plus character—that is the true goal of dducation.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

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14. “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle

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15. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’’’ — Audrey Hepburn

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16. “I’m not going to school just for the academics. I wanted to share ideas, to be around people who are passionate about learning.” — Emma Watson

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17. “A good education is a foundation for a better future.” — Elizabeth Warren

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18. “You have to stay in school. You have to. You have to go to college. You have to get your degree. Because that’s the one thing people can’t take away from you is your education. And it is worth the investment.” — Michelle Obama

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19. “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” — Taylor Swift

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20. “Fall is here, hear the yell. Back to school, ring the bell. Brand new shoes, walking blues. Climb the fence, books and pens. I can tell that we are going to be friends. I can tell that we are going to be friends.” — “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes

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21. “When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally.” — Meghan Markle

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22. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X

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23. “I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.” — Steve Irwin

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24. “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids to work together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” — Bill Gates

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25. “We don’t stop going to school when we graduate.” — Carol Burnett

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26. “Education doesn’t just make us smarter. It makes us whole.” — Jill Biden

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27. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King

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28. “Don’t try hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different...just try hard to be you.” — Zendaya

back to school quotes: “First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school.” — Nemo From Finding Nemo

29. “First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school.” — Nemo From Finding Nemo

back to school quotes:“High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else.” — Nick Jonas

30. “High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else.” — Nick Jonas

back to school quotes: “if You Put Your Mind To It, You Can Accomplish Anything.” — Marty Mcfly From back To The Future

31. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” — Marty Mcfly from Back To The Future

back to school quotes: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pelé

32. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pelé

back to school quotes: “I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study...would be about the same as getting into paradise.” — Booker T. Washington

33. “I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study...would be about the same as getting into paradise.” — Booker T. Washington

back to school quotes: “I know I can be what I wanna be. If I work hard at it, I’ll be where I wanna be.” — “I Can” by Nas

34. “I know I can be what I wanna be. If I work hard at it, I’ll be where I wanna be.” — “I Can” by Nas

back to school quotes: “Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It’s about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.” — Shakuntala Devi

35. “Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It’s about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.” — Shakuntala Devi

back to school quotes: “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.” — Helen Keller

36. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.” — Helen Keller

back to school quotes: “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” — Barack Obama

37. “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” — Barack Obama

back to school quotes: “You’re off to great places. Today is your day!” — Dr. Seuss

38. “You’re off to great places. Today is your day!” — Dr. Seuss

back to school quotes: “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” — Brian Herbert

39. “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” — Brian Herbert

back to school quotes: “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein

40. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein

$back to school quotes: “I don’t know everything. I know a fraction of what there is to know, and I don’t think I will ever know everything, but it’s important to me to constantly challenge myself.” — Yara Shahidi$

41. “I don’t know everything. I know a fraction of what there is to know, and I don’t think I will ever know everything, but it’s important to me to constantly challenge myself.” — Yara Shahidi

back to school quotes: “First day of school, make sure that you know your locker combination.” — Jordan Francis

42. “First day of school, make sure that you know your locker combination.” — Jordan Francis

back to school quotes: “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” — Alan Cohen

43. “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” — Alan Cohen

back to school quotes: “I came to understand the value of education, not just to enable me to make a good living, but to enable me to make a worthwhile life.” – Ruth Simmons

44. “I came to understand the value of education, not just to enable me to make a good living, but to enable me to make a worthwhile life.” – Ruth Simmons

back to school quotes: “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” — Zig Ziglar

45. “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” — Zig Ziglar

back to school quotes: “Education is the key to opportunity.” — Gordon B. Hinckley

46. “Education is the key to opportunity.” — Gordon B. Hinckley

back to school quotes: “There’s more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” — Walt Disney

47. “There’s more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” — Walt Disney

48. “A sense of curiosity is nature’s original school of education.” — Smiley Blanton

back to school quotes: “Education is a right, not a privilege; it is an opportunity, not an entitlement.” — Arne Duncan

49. “Education is a right, not a privilege; it is an opportunity, not an entitlement.” — Arne Duncan

50. “The highest result of education is tolerance.” — Hellen Keller

Alexandra Hough

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50 Inspirational Back-to-School Quotes So Your Kids Have the Best Year Ever

1. “Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.” — Oprah Winfrey

2. “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” — Dr. Seuss

3. “Work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen.” — Conan O’Brien

4. “You don’t learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over.” — Richard Branson

5. “Take your risks now. As you grow older, you become more fearful and less flexible. And I mean that literally. I hurt my knee this week on the treadmill, and it wasn’t even on.” — Amy Poehler

6. “You must do the things you think you cannot do.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

7. “Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin

8. “I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework.” — Lily Tomlin

9. “Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai

10. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

11. “Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” — Anthony J. D’Angelo

12. “I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.” — Jenny Han

13. “Intelligence plus character—that is the true goal of dducation.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

14. “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.” — Aristotle

15. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible!’’’ — Audrey Hepburn

16. “I’m not going to school just for the academics. I wanted to share ideas, to be around people who are passionate about learning.” — Emma Watson

17. “A good education is a foundation for a better future.” — Elizabeth Warren

18. “You have to stay in school. You have to. You have to go to college. You have to get your degree. Because that’s the one thing people can’t take away from you is your education. And it is worth the investment.” — Michelle Obama

19. “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” — Taylor Swift

20. “Fall is here, hear the yell. Back to school, ring the bell. Brand new shoes, walking blues. Climb the fence, books and pens. I can tell that we are going to be friends. I can tell that we are going to be friends.” — “We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes

21. “When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are emboldened to effect change within their communities and globally.” — Meghan Markle

22. “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X

23. “I believe that education is all about being excited about something. Seeing passion and enthusiasm helps push an educational message.” — Steve Irwin

24. “Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids to work together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important.” — Bill Gates

25. “We don’t stop going to school when we graduate.” — Carol Burnett

26. “Education doesn’t just make us smarter. It makes us whole.” — Jill Biden

27. “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King

28. “Don’t try hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different...just try hard to be you.” — Zendaya

29. “First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school.” — Nemo From Finding Nemo

30. “High school is about finding who you are, because that’s more important than trying to be someone else.” — Nick Jonas

31. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.” — Marty Mcfly from Back To The Future

32. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pelé

33. “I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study...would be about the same as getting into paradise.” — Booker T. Washington

34. “I know I can be what I wanna be. If I work hard at it, I’ll be where I wanna be.” — “I Can” by Nas

35. “Education is not just about going to school and getting a degree. It’s about widening your knowledge and absorbing the truth about life.” — Shakuntala Devi

36. “A well-educated mind will always have more questions than answers.” — Helen Keller

37. “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” — Barack Obama

38. “You’re off to great places. Today is your day!” — Dr. Seuss

39. “The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.” — Brian Herbert

40. “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” — Albert Einstein

41. “I don’t know everything. I know a fraction of what there is to know, and I don’t think I will ever know everything, but it’s important to me to constantly challenge myself.” — Yara Shahidi

42. “First day of school, make sure that you know your locker combination.” — Jordan Francis

43. “Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” — Alan Cohen

44. “I came to understand the value of education, not just to enable me to make a good living, but to enable me to make a worthwhile life.” – Ruth Simmons

45. “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” — Zig Ziglar

46. “Education is the key to opportunity.” — Gordon B. Hinckley

47. “There’s more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island.” — Walt Disney

48. “A sense of curiosity is nature’s original school of education.” — Smiley Blanton

49. “Education is a right, not a privilege; it is an opportunity, not an entitlement.” — Arne Duncan

50. “The highest result of education is tolerance.” — Hellen Keller

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