Back to school quotes are short lines about new beginnings, learning, and effort, useful for a first-day card, a classroom board, a morning announcement, or a caption. This collection sorts them by who they suit, students, parents, and teachers, and attributes each to its real source.
Where a popular line carries an attribution that cannot be verified, the note says so, so you do not put the wrong name on a sign or a card.
Inspirational back to school quotes for students
These suit a first-day-of-school card, a locker note, or a bulletin board aimed at kids and teens.
“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
— Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
— Zig Ziglar
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
— Arthur Ashe
“Be the best of whatever you are.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Back to school quotes about learning and education
These work for a classroom wall or a newsletter, and lean on the value of school itself. For a fuller set on this theme, see our education quotes.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— Nelson Mandela
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”
— Albert Einstein
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
— Malala Yousafzai
Back to school quotes for parents
These suit a parent’s first-day photo caption or a note tucked into a backpack, marking a fresh start.
“Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
— commonly attributed to Carl Bard; the attribution is not documented, so treat it as anonymous
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
— widely credited to Ralph Waldo Emerson, but not found in his writings; the line is better treated as anonymous
Short back to school quotes for captions
These are brief enough for a photo caption, a sticky note, or a chalkboard sign.
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
— Margaret Fuller
“Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”
— commonly shared without a verified source; treat it as anonymous
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
— B.B. King
FAQ
What is a good short quote for the first day of school?
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader” (Margaret Fuller) and “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” (Zig Ziglar) are both short and fit a card or caption.
What is a good back to school quote for a card?
Dr. Seuss’s “You’re off to great places! Today is your day!” from Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is a reliable choice for a card to a student of almost any age.
How do I cite a quote I use in an assignment?
Name the speaker or author and, if it comes from a book, the title. For formal papers, see how to quote in MLA. Avoid quotes whose source you cannot confirm.
Are these back to school quotes free to use?
Short quotes used for a card, classroom board, or caption are fine with attribution. For published or commercial use, check the source, since some lines come from copyrighted books like Dr. Seuss’s.
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