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Life can get pretty busy—how often do we stop and reflect on all of the goodness around us? Probably not often enough. Being thankful is scientifically proven to improve the quality of our lives, so it’s something we should definitely be encouraging in our classrooms all year round. To help you get started, we’ve put together this list of gratitude quotes that you’ll feel good about sharing with students.
Gratitude Quotes From Children’s Books
Many kids books have themes of gratitude and include famous gratitude quotes worth sharing. Here are some of our favorites.
1. I am happy. I am very happy. This morning when I woke up I felt good because the sun was shining. I felt good because I was a frog. And I felt good because I have you as a friend. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think about how fine everything is. —Arnold Lobel
2. We appreciate the complicated and wonderful gifts you give us in each other. And we appreciate the task you put down before us, of loving each other the best we can, even as you love us. —Kate DiCamillo
3. I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
4. Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt … you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful. —Matt de la Peña
5. And for all I know he is sitting there still, under his favorite cork tree, smelling the flowers just quietly. He is very happy. —Munro Leaf
6. In November, people are good to each other. They carry pies to each other’s homes and talk by crackling woodstoves, sipping mellow cider. They travel very far on a special November day just to share a meal with one another and to give thanks for their many blessings—for the food on their tables and the babies in their arms. —Cynthia Rylant
7. On the night you were born, the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered, “Life will never be the same.” —Nancy Tillman
8. “I don’t need very much now,” said the boy, “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.” “Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.” And the boy did. And the tree was happy. —Shel Silverstein
9. You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. — E.B. White
10. I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. —L.M. Montgomery
More Gratitude Quotes
Here are more of our favorite quotes about gratitude to share with your students.