A quote of the day for students is a short line read aloud or posted at the start of class, used in morning meetings, on the board, or in a bell-ringer. The best ones are brief, clear enough for the grade level, and worth a minute of discussion. This collection sorts them by elementary, middle, and high school 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 post the wrong name in the classroom.
Quote of the day for elementary students
These are simple, concrete, and easy for younger students to talk about.
“No one is perfect—that’s why pencils have erasers.”
— commonly credited to Wolfgang Riebe; the attribution is not well documented, so treat it as anonymous
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
— Margaret Fuller
“Be silly. Be honest. Be kind.”
— widely attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, but not found in his writings; treat it as anonymous
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
— commonly shared without a verified source; treat it as anonymous
Quote of the day for middle school students
These suit preteens, who respond to lines about effort, identity, and persistence. For a broader set aimed at this age, see our quotes for students.
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
— Zig Ziglar
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
— commonly credited to Confucius; the attribution is undocumented, so treat it as anonymous
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
— Arthur Ashe
Quote of the day for high school students
These carry a bit more weight, suited to older students thinking about goals and choices.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
— widely attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt, but the attribution is not documented; treat it as anonymous
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— Nelson Mandela
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
— B.B. King
How to use a quote of the day in class
Post or read one line at the start of class and give students a minute to react to it. Common formats are a morning-meeting read-aloud, a board posting students copy down, or a bell-ringer where they write a two-sentence response.
Quotes also double as quick writing and discussion prompts. Ask what the line means, whether students agree, or for an example from their own week. Used this way, a quote of the day builds a short habit of reflection without taking real time from the lesson. Choosing lines with confirmed attribution also models good sourcing, which connects to how to quote in MLA when students cite in writing.
FAQ
What is a good quote of the day for elementary students?
“No one is perfect—that’s why pencils have erasers” and “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader” (Margaret Fuller) are short and concrete enough for younger students.
How long should a quote of the day be?
One sentence is ideal. A line short enough to read aloud once and remember is more useful than a long passage, especially for a board posting or bell-ringer.
Should I attribute the quote when I post it?
Yes. Naming the source models good citation and avoids spreading misattributions. Where a line’s author is uncertain, label it as anonymous rather than guessing.
Where can I find more student quotes?
See our collections of quotes for students and education quotes for more options sorted by purpose.
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