Good Thanksgiving quotes are short enough to fit in a card or caption and say thank you without sounding forced. This list has 60 of them. The first 28 are famous lines from Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Charles Dickens, Henry David Thoreau and the Bible, each with its source. The other 32 are original lines for family, friends, coworkers and cards.
Thanksgiving in the United States falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026 that is Thursday, November 26.
Quick picks: for a card, use "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." For a toast, use Kennedy's line about living by our words. For the group chat, use Mark Twain's line about the turkeys.
Famous good Thanksgiving quotes
- "The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies." (Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1863)
- "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them." (John F. Kennedy, Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1963)
- "A day of public thanksgiving and prayer." (George Washington, Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789)
- "There is one day that is ours." (O. Henry, "Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen," 1905)
- "Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow." (1860s sermon, often credited to Edward Sandford Martin)
- "Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude." (Henry Ward Beecher, Thanksgiving sermon, 1868)
- "Over the river and through the wood, to grandfather's house we go." (Lydia Maria Child, 1844)
- "What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin Pie?" (John Greenleaf Whittier, "The Pumpkin")
- "Forever on Thanksgiving Day the heart will find the pathway home." (Wilbur D. Nesbit, 1921)
- "Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast." (William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors)
Inspirational Thanksgiving quotes about gratitude
- "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." (Jean-Baptiste Massieu)
- "Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others." (Cicero)
- "I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual." (Henry David Thoreau, letter, 1856)
- "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." (G. K. Chesterton, A Short History of England, 1917)
- "Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many, not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some." (Charles Dickens, Sketches by Boz)
- "Thou that hast given so much to me, give one thing more, a grateful heart." (George Herbert, "Gratefulness," 1633)
- "O Lord, that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!" (William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 2)
- "Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot." (Hausa proverb)
Thanksgiving Bible verses
- "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever." (Psalm 107:1, KJV)
- "In every thing give thanks." (1 Thessalonians 5:18, KJV)
- "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." (Psalm 100:4, KJV)
- "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24, KJV)
- "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15, KJV)
- "In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6, KJV)
Funny Thanksgiving quotes
- "Let all give humble, hearty, and sincere thanks now, but the turkeys." (Mark Twain, Following the Equator, 1897)
- "Turkey, n. A large bird whose flesh when eaten on certain religious anniversaries has the peculiar property of attesting piety and gratitude." (Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary, 1911)
- "After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relations." (Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance, 1893)
- "There are but seven perfect tastes in the world, and one of them is Thanksgiving cider." (E. P. Powell, "An Old-Time Thanksgiving," 1904)
- I came for the family and stayed for the stuffing.
- Thankful for stretchy pants and relatives who do not ask about my job.
- My Thanksgiving plan: eat, nap, repeat until Sunday.
Short good Thanksgiving quotes
- Full plates, full chairs, full hearts.
- Grateful for the table and everyone around it.
- Pass the gravy and the gratitude.
- Gather, give thanks, eat seconds.
- The best thing on the table is the people.
- Counting blessings before counting calories.
- Home smells like pie and feels like thanks.
Good Thanksgiving quotes for family
- Every year the table gets louder, and I would not change a seat.
- Thank you for saving me a chair, even when I show up late.
- We may not agree on pie, but we agree on each other.
- Grateful for the people who knew me before I knew myself.
- Our family recipe: show up, sit down, stay late.
- Thank you for every holiday you made look easy.
Good Thanksgiving quotes for friends
- Friends are the family we would pick for the table every year.
- Thankful for friends who bring a side dish and stay to wash it.
- Happy Friendsgiving to the people who make every gathering better.
- Grateful for every laugh we shared this year.
- You are on my thankful list every November, and the other months too.
- Good food is better with good friends. Thank you for both.
Thanksgiving appreciation quotes for coworkers and clients
- Thank you for a year of hard work and good humor.
- Grateful to work with people who make busy weeks easier.
- Thank you for trusting us this year. We do not take it for granted.
- Wishing our team a long weekend and a short inbox.
- Thankful for clients who feel like neighbors.
Thanksgiving messages and taglines for cards
- Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours.
- Wishing you a warm home and a full table this Thanksgiving.
- Thank you for being part of our year. Happy Thanksgiving.
- May your day be full of good food and better company.
- With thanks and warm wishes this Thanksgiving.
Which good Thanksgiving quote to use
| Where you will use it | Quote to try |
|---|---|
| Card for parents or grandparents | "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." (Jean-Baptiste Massieu) |
| Toast at the table | "The highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them." (John F. Kennedy, 1963) |
| Grace or church bulletin | "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good." (Psalm 107:1) |
| Instagram caption | Full plates, full chairs, full hearts. |
| Group chat | "Let all give humble, hearty, and sincere thanks now, but the turkeys." (Mark Twain) |
| Email to coworkers or clients | Thank you for a year of hard work and good humor. |
How to use these Thanksgiving quotes
Write one quote inside a card and add one sentence about the person. Place a short quote on each plate as a name card. Read a Bible verse or Lincoln's opening line before the meal.
When you quote a famous line, keep the author's name with it. People search for these quotes by author, and the name tells them the line is real. For a gift that carries a message, browse our personalized embroidered gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Thanksgiving quote?
"Gratitude is the memory of the heart," credited to Jean-Baptiste Massieu, is short and fits any card. For a longer line, use the opening of Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation, listed first above.
What is the best Thanksgiving message?
Thank the person for something specific, then add a wish. For example: "Thank you for being part of our year. Happy Thanksgiving."
What is a nice quote for thanking someone?
John F. Kennedy's line works well: "The highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them." It comes from his 1963 Thanksgiving Proclamation.
What are some good taglines for Thanksgiving?
"Happy Thanksgiving from our table to yours" and "Full plates, full chairs, full hearts" both fit a card, a sign or a social post.
How do you say Happy Thanksgiving in an elegant way?
Try "With thanks and warm wishes this Thanksgiving." For a classic line, use "Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast," from Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors.
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. Thanksgiving in the United States is the fourth Thursday of November.
