100 of Our All-Time Favorite Classroom Quotes

It’s a good day for a good day.

It doesn’t matter what others are doing, it matters what you are doing.

We love using inspirational quotes to motivate and inspire students. The power of words just cannot be overestimated. Sometimes sharing the right words at the right moment can make all the difference. Here are some of our all-time favorite classroom quotes, as spotted on Instagram.

Ways To Use Classroom Quotes

As we mentioned, a great quote can help you find the right words when you need them. There are so many moments in the classroom when sending the right message is so important. Whether it’s the beginning of the school year, before or after the holidays, or at the end of the year, good classroom quotes can set the tone for our students.

They’re also perfect in the face of the unexpected. Maybe your students have dealt with a big change or disappointment. Maybe they’re celebrating. Print some and hang them on the walls, or make small copies to sneak in with homework or treats. You’ll find something for every occasion on this list. We hope you enjoy it!

Our All-Time Favorite Classroom Quotes

1. Be the leader in a school of fish.

1. Be the leader in a school of fish.

2. Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside.

2. Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside.- classroom quotes

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3. Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

4. Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

4. If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?

5. If the words you spoke appeared on your skin, would you still be beautiful?

5. I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.

6. I may not be there yet but I am closer than I was yesterday.

6. Even if hate has a bullhorn, love is louder.

7. Even if hate has a bullhorn, love is louder.

7. Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out.

8. Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out.

8. Kind is the new cool.

9. Kind is the new cool.

9. If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.

10. If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.

10. None of us is as smart as all of us.

11. None of us is as smart as all of us.

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11. From small beginnings come great things.

12. From small beginnings come great things.

12. Make today so awesome yesterday is jealous.

13. Make today so awesome yesterday is jealous.- classroom quotes

13. Look with kindness and you will find wonder.

14. Look with kindness and you will find wonder.- classroom quotes

14. Be awesome, be amazing, be you.

15. Be awesome, be amazing, be you.

15. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.

16. Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.

16. Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.

17. Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.- classroom quotes

17. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

18. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

18. You are loved.

19. You are loved.

19. Broken crayons still color.

20. Broken crayons still color.- classroom quotes

20. Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.

22. Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.

21. In our class we don’t do easy. We make easy happen through hard work and learning.

23. In our class we don't do easy. We make easy happen through hard work and learning.

22. You’re here. You take up space. You matter.

24. You're here. You take up space. You matter.- classroom quotes

23. Your voice matters.

25. Your voice matters.- classroom quotes

24. Throw kindness around like confetti.

26. Throw kindness around like confetti.

25. The earth without art is just eh.

27. The earth without art is just eh.

26. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.

28. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.- classroom quotes

27. Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world in the eye.

29. Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world in the eye.

28. Let’s root for each other and watch each other grow.

30. Let's root for each other and watch each other grow.- classroom quotes

29. To have good friends, you need to be one.

31. To have good friends, you need to be one.

30. Misfits we may be, but we will rewrite history.

32. Misfits we may be, but we will rewrite history.

31. The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.

33. The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.

32. Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.

34. Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.- classroom quotes

33. Be the reason someone smiles today.

35. Be the reason someone smiles today.

34. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

36. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.

35. You’re going to rattle the stars, you are.

38. You're going to rattle the stars, you are.- classroom quotes

36. If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.

39. If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you.

37. It’s a good day for a good day.

40. It's a good day for a good day.

38. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

41. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.- classroom quotes

39. Everything you don’t know is something you can learn.

42. Everything you don't know is something you can learn.

40. Mistakes help me learn better.

43. Mistakes help me learn better.

41. We may all be different fish, but at this school we swim together.

44. We may all be different fish, but at this school we swim together.

42. Say what you mean but don’t say it mean.

45. Say what you mean but don't say it mean.- classroom quotes

43. You belong here.

46. You belong here.

44. You will never regret being kind.

47. You will never regret being kind.

45. Look closely at the present you are constructing. It should look like the future you are dreaming.

48. Look closely at the present you are constructing. It should look like the future you are dreaming.

46. Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

49. Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.- classroom quotes

47. It doesn’t matter what others are doing, it matters what you are doing.

50. It doesn't matter what others are doing, it matters what you are doing.

48. Wake up and be awesome.

51. Wake up and be awesome.

49. Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.

52. Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.

50. When you change your thoughts, remember to also change your world.

53. When you change your thoughts, remember to also change your world.- classroom quotes

51. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

54. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

52. The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.

55. The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.

53. Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.

56. Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.- classroom quotes

54. Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.

57. Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.

55. Either you run the day or the day runs you.

58. Either you run the day or the day runs you.

56. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

59. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.

57. Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

60. Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

58. Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.

61. Take the attitude of a student, never be too big to ask questions, never know too much to learn something new.- classroom quotes

59. Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

62. Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.

60. If you’re not positive energy, you’re negative energy.

63. If you’re not positive energy, you’re negative energy.

61. Don’t look at your feet to see if you are doing it right. Just dance.

64. Don't look at your feet to see if you are doing it right. Just dance.

62. Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.

65. Set your goals high, and don’t stop till you get there.

63. Live out of your imagination, not your history.

66. Live out of your imagination, not your history.- classroom quotes

64. Worry is a misuse of imagination.

67. Worry is a misuse of imagination.

65. A year from now, you will wish you had started today.

68. A year from now, you will wish you had started today.

66. Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.

69. Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle.

67. Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.

70. Everything you've ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.

68. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

71. Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.-classroom quotes

69. Don’t worry about failure … you only have to be right once.

72. Don’t worry about failure ... you only have to be right once.

70. You carry the passport to your own happiness.

73. You carry the passport to your own happiness.

71. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

74. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.- classroom quotes

72. It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.

75. It's kind of fun to do the impossible.

73. No one is perfect—that’s why pencils have erasers.

No one is perfect—that’s why pencils have erasers.- classroom quotes

74. The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

The classroom should be an entrance into the world, not an escape from it.

75. No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.

76. The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

The secret of getting ahead is getting started.

77. Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher.

Only surround yourself with people who will lift you higher.- classroom quotes

78. There’s a way to do it better. Find it.

There’s a way to do it better. Find it.

79. Everything comes to he who hustles while he waits.

Everything comes to he who hustles while he waits.

80. If we value all readers, we must value all reading.

If we value all readers, we must value all reading.- classroom quotes

81. The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.

82. Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.

Let us remember: One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.

83. It’s easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school.

It's easier to floss with barbed wire than admit you like someone in middle school.- classroom quotes

84. He who questions much shall learn much and retain much.

He who questions much shall learn much and retain much.- classroom quotes

85. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

86. Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.

Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.- classroom quotes

87. Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.

Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.- classroom quotes

88. Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.

Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.

89. Ideas are great arrows, but there has to be a bow.

Ideas are great arrows, but there has to be a bow.

90. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

91. If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.

If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it.- classroom quotes

92. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.- classroom quotes

93. History: a collection of epitaphs.

History: a collection of epitaphs.

94. I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.

I never dreamt of success. I worked for it.

95. Passion is the genesis of genius.

Passion is the genesis of genius.

96. The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.

97. The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one.- classroom quotes

98. The future of the world is in my classroom today.

The future of the world is in my classroom today.

99. I am not a teacher but an awakener.

I am not a teacher but an awakener.

100. Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.- classroom quotes

What are your favorite classroom quotes? We’d love to hear them in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out these inspirational posters for teachers.

From "don't let anyone dull your sparkle" to "your voice matters," here are some of the best classroom quotes to inspire kids.