Back to School Quotes
Summer has been fun but there’s something grounding and refreshing about getting back into a routine. Whether you’re a Mom waving goodbye at the school gate, a student bracing for homework, or a teacher prepping bulletin boards, back to school season brings its own mix of emotions.
Sometimes we all need a little motivation (or a laugh) to get us through the early mornings and endless supply lists. That’s where quotes come in. Whether you’re writing a note in your child’s lunchbox, decorating a classroom, or simply need a pick-me-up to get through the car line, here are some heartwarming, funny, and inspirational back to school quotes for every age and stage.
Inspirational Back to School Quotes
These quotes are great for reminding students (and parents!) of the bigger picture, education, growth, and the excitement of learning something new.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— Nelson Mandela
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
— Dr. Seuss
“Learn as much as you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later.”
— Dana Stewart Scott
“The beginning is the most important part of the work.”
— Plato
“Back to school means back to endless possibilities.”
— Anonymous
Motivational Quotes for Students
These quotes are perfect for kids and teens who need a little extra boost of courage to tackle a new grade, new friends, or a pile of math homework.
“Mistakes are proof that you are trying.”
— Jennifer Lim
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing.”
— Pelé
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
“Don’t let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
— John Wooden
“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”
— Gail Devers
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
— Arthur Ashe
“You are capable of amazing things.”
— Anonymous
Funny Back to School Quotes
Let’s be honest, some days, it’s humor that gets us through. These quotes are great for putting a smile on your face during those early morning scrambles.
“There are three good reasons to be a teacher—June, July, and August.”
— Unknown
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”
— Albert Einstein
“I can’t believe I’m buying school supplies already. I feel like I just bought bathing suits and popsicles.”
— Every mom, every August
“The most wonderful time of the year isn’t Christmas, it’s the first day of school.”
— Some tired parent
“Back to school: where parents cry tears of joy and kids cry tears of misery.”
— Anonymous
“Why do they give us supply lists that cost more than my first car?”
— Every parent in Target
“My child’s backpack weighs more than they do. What are they packing in there, bricks?”
Sweet Quotes for Parents to Share with Kids
Want to leave a little note in their lunchbox or whisper something comforting on the first day? These quotes are great for calming nerves and spreading love.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
— A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
— Henry David Thoreau
“Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.”
— John C. Maxwell
“I love you, and I’m so proud of the person you’re becoming.”
— Mom (because that’s what we do)
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
“You don’t have to be perfect to be amazing.”
— Anonymous
Encouraging Quotes for Teachers
Teachers are the real MVPs of the back-to-school season. These quotes remind educators just how powerful and important their work is.
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.”
— Brad Henry
“It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.”
— Anonymous
“Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops.”
— Henry Adams
“The influence of a great teacher can never be erased.”
— Anonymous
“To teach is to touch a life forever.”
— Unknown
“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.”
— Bob Talbert
Back to School Quotes for Every Age
Preschool & Kindergarten
“The first day of school: The day you go from being their whole world to just part of it.”
— Unknown
“Let them be little, because they’re only that way for a while.”
— Unknown
“Big journeys begin with small steps.”
— Anonymous
Elementary
“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
— Chinese Proverb
“School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside.”
— Lon Watters
“Every day is a chance to learn something new.”
— Anonymous
Middle School & High School
“Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”
— Michael Jordan
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
— Oscar Wilde
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
— Nelson Mandela
Creative Ways to Use These Quotes
If you’re wondering what to do with all these back-to-school quotes (besides reading them over your morning coffee), here are a few fun ideas:
- Lunchbox Notes: Print or handwrite a quote for your child’s lunch each day the first week of school.
- First Day Photo Signs: Use a quote as a caption or prop for that all-important back-to-school photo.
- Bulletin Boards: Teachers can use inspiring or funny quotes to decorate classrooms.
- Chalkboard Doors or Whiteboards at Home: Rotate a quote each week to set the tone.
- Printable Postcards: Design small cards with quotes and tuck them into backpacks or folders.
Final Thoughts from One Mom to Another
Let’s be real: Back to school isn’t always picture-perfect. There will be forgotten lunchboxes, early alarms, and maybe even a few tears (from kids and parents). But there will also be growth, friendships, new discoveries, and lots of “I did it!” moments.
Whether your child is heading into preschool, navigating middle school, or prepping for senior year, the right words can make a difference. Quotes aren’t just filler, they’re little reminders that we’re all in this together, learning and growing every day.
