65 Short Quotes for Students That Will Propel Their Success

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In my years of teaching Montessori at the elementary level, incorporating short quotes for students into both my in-person and online classrooms was a regular and impactful practice.

The way I see it is education is a journey marked by moments of seeking motivation, inspiration, and guidance, especially for students in the second plane of development. Short quotes can offer powerful wisdom and encouragement in just a few words.

In this article, inspired by my experiences as a Montessori teacher, I’ve put together a list of short quotes specifically tailored for students, from influential people including invaluable quotes from Maria Montessori herself.

Happy African American boy sitting on floor with copybook and pencil reflecting on the short quotes for students he read.

65 Short Quotes for Students

Here you’ll find the best short quotes to motivate and inspire students to reach for success. Save this list now to give the kids in your life timeless wisdom whenever they need it.

The quotes below are grouped to cover different parts of student life and learning. They are meant to inspire, motivate, and empower young learners on their educational journey.

Short Maria Montessori Quotes



“Growth is not merely a harmonious increase in size, but a transformation.” Maria Montessori

One of the many short quotes for students by Maria Montessori.


“Within the child lies the fate of the future.” Maria Montessori

A short Maria Montessori quote to share with students.

Short Quotes for Student Success

“You are capable of more than you know.” Glinda, The Wizard of Oz

A great quote for students from The Wizard of Oz.

“Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” Dr. Seuss

A short quote for students by Dr. Seuss.

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” Louisa May Alcott

One of the more powerful short quotes for students to get them thinking.

“Don’t wait for the opportunity. Create it.” George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw has many famous quotes, but this short one is great to share with students.

“There is no substitute for hard work.” Thomas Edison

Share this short quote with students to get them thinking about hard work.

Quotes About Being Yourself

“Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

An Oscar Wilde quote that reads, "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."

“The things that make me different are the things that make me.” Winnie The Pooh

An excellent short quote by Winnie the Pooh.

“Insist on yourself; never imitate.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Share this powerful short quote with the kids in your life. It reads, "Insist on yourself; never imitate."

“When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everyone will respect you.” Lao Tzu

This is one of the longer short quotes for students to inspire their success.

“Those who have a strong sense of love and belonging have the courage to be imperfect.” Brené Brown

A great quote by Brene Brown reminding students to be themselves.

Short Quotes for Students to Overcome Failure

“We are all failures – at least the best of us are.” J.M. Barrie

A great short quote for students about failure that reads, "We are all failures - at least the best of us are."

“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be” John Wooden

A great short quote for students about failure.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

A great quote about failure by Thomas Edison that reads, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."

“Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.” Henry Ford

A great short quote for students about failure.

“The expert in anything was once a beginner.” Helen Hayes

A great short quote for students about failure that reads, "The expert in anything was once a beginner."

Quotes About Working Hard to Achieve Goals

“Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Tim Notke

One of our short quotes for students about working hard.

“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Thomas Edison

A short quote for students by Thomas Edison.

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” Steve Jobs

A short quote for students by Steve Jobs.

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” Zig Ziglar

A short quote for students by Zig Ziglar.

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.” Banksy

An excellent quote for students by Banksy that reads, "If you get get tired, learn to rest, not to quit."

Short Quotes for Students About Motivation

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

One of our short quotes for students about motivation.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis

This is a great short quote for students about motivation by C.S. Lewis.

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be ignited.” Plutarch

This is a great short quote for students about motivation.

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Norman Vincent Peale

This is a great short quote for students about motivation.

“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln

This is a great short quote for students about motivation by Abraham Lincoln.

Quotes About Teamwork and Collaboration

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller

This is one of our favourite quotes about  teamwork and collaboration by Helen Keller.

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” Aristotle

Share this Aristotle quote about teamwork and collaboration with your students.

“It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” Napoleon Hill

A great quote for students about teamwork.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” Ryunosuke Satoro

A wonderful quote for students about working together.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” Harry Truman

A wonderful quote for students about working together by Harry Truman.

Short Quotes for Students About Gratitude and Positivity

“Learn to be thankful for what you already have, while you pursue all that you want.” Jim Rohn

A longer short quote for kids about gratitude and positivity.

“There are always flowers for those who want to see them.” Henri Matisse

A short quote for kids about gratitude and positivity.

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle

A short quote for kids about gratitude and positivity.

“No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks.” James Allen

A short quote for kids about gratitude.

“Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.” Dalai Lama

A short quote for kids about gratitude and positivity by the Dalai Lama.

Short Quotes for Curiosity and Learning

“Intelligence follows curiosity.” James Clear

A great short quote to share with students to ignite curiosity and learning.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” William Butler Yeats

A great short quote to share with students to ignite curiosity and learning.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” B.B. King

A great short quote to share with students to ignite curiosity and learning by B.B. King.

“Learning never exhausts the mind.” Leonardo da Vinci

A great short quote to share with students to ignite curiosity and learning.

“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” Golda Meir

A great short quote to share with students to ignite curiosity by Golda Meir.

Short Quotes About Persistence and Determination

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” Newt Gingrich

This Newt Gingrich quote is about persistence and determination.

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Albert Einstein

A quote about persistence and determination by Albert Einstein.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” Confucius

This is one of those short quotes for students that helps them learn about persistence and determination.

“Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” Matt Biondi

This is one of those short quotes for students that helps them learn about persistence and determination.

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” Winston Churchill

This short quote for students helps them learn about persistence and determination.

Short Quotes for Students About Creativity

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” Albert Einstein

A great Albert Einstein quote for students about creativity.

“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless.” Jean-Jacques Rousseau

This is a great short quote for students about creativity.

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Maya Angelou

A short quote for students about creativity by Maya Angelou.

“Creativity is contagious. Pass it on.” Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein has some great short quotes for students, like this one that read, "Creativity is contagious. Pass it on."

“You’re mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” Lewis Carroll

A short quote for students about creativity.

Short Quotes About Kindness

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Aesop

A great short quote for students that reads, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Dalai Lama

Short quotes for students about kindness, like this one by the Dalai Lama, are very impactful.

“Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Mark Twain

A short quote for kids about kindness.

“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” Lao Tzu

Use this quote with your students to teach kindness.

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” Bob Kerrey

A lovely short quote for students about kindness.

Quotes for Students About Leadership

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” Simon Sinek

A short quote about leadership for kids.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” John C. Maxwell

A short quote about leadership for kids.

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” Ralph Nader

A powerful short quote for students about leadership by Ralph Nader.

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Warren Bennis

A short quote about leadership for kids.

“Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” John F. Kennedy

One of our favourite short quotes for students about leadership by John F. Kennedy.

These quotes, tailored for elementary students in the second plane of development, aim to inspire, motivate, and instil valuable lessons that contribute to their growth and development. Whether facing challenges or celebrating achievements, I’m confident that these words will serve as guiding lights on your students’ educational journey.

Picture of a young boy going to school. He's excited and holding some books in his right hand.
Portrait of teenager boy going to school lessons on sunny summer day.

💡 Looking for more quotes to share with your elementary students?
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Benefits of Short Quotes for Students

Short quotes pack a punch when it comes to helping students stay motivated and focused. They’re like little nuggets of wisdom that can lift spirits and keep students going, even when things get tough.

Whether it’s a quick pick-me-up during a busy day or a gentle reminder of what matters most, these quotes are easy to remember and can make a big difference in how students approach their studies.

Little thoughtful black kid sitting on floor with notebook and pencil looking away against white wall as he ponders the short quotes for students he has read.

But these quotes aren’t just about feeling good – they’re also about getting students to think. By simplifying big ideas into short phrases, they encourage students to pause and reflect.

From staying strong during tough times to being kind to others, these quotes prompt students to consider their own values and how they want to live.

So, while they may be short, the quotes offered above are like little keys that unlock big thoughts and help students grow into the best versions of themselves.

Tips for Displaying Short Quotes for Students

Transforming blank walls into vibrant sources of inspiration and creating a quote wall offers an opportunity to infuse classrooms or homes with motivation and wisdom. Keep these points in mind when you go to decorate your walls with empowering words.

Create a Quote Wall

Designate a specific classroom or home area where short quotes can be prominently displayed. This could be a bulletin board, a whiteboard section, or even a dedicated wall space.

Use Eye-Catching Displays

Use bright posters, fun fonts, or creative designs to make the quotes visually appealing. This will draw students’ attention and make the quotes more memorable.

Rotate Quotes Regularly

Keep the display fresh and engaging by rotating the quotes regularly. This could be done weekly, monthly, or whenever you feel it’s time for a change. Encourage students to suggest new quotes to keep the display dynamic.

A young boy holding a small sign that has a short quote on it.

Align Quotes with Themes

Coordinate the quotes with current classroom or home themes, such as kindness, perseverance, or growth mindset. This helps reinforce important lessons and concepts in a visual way.

Incorporate Student Input

Encourage student involvement by allowing them to contribute their favorite quotes or suggest quotes that resonate with them. This promotes ownership and engagement with the display.

A young girl sitting at a desk holding a crayon. She is going to write a short quote for students to be inspired by.

Provide Context

Pair each quote with a brief explanation or discussion prompt to help students understand its relevance and significance. This encourages deeper reflection and connection to their own experiences.

Make it Interactive

Add interactive elements to the display, such as a space for students to write or draw their reactions to the quotes, share how they relate to them, or suggest additional quotes for future inclusion.

Elevate your walls with our stunning quote posters!

Designed to inspire and motivate teachers and students, our posters are perfect for any learning environment. Whether you want to create a positive atmosphere or spark thoughtful discussions, our quote posters will make a lasting impact.

Two posters hanging on the wall in black frame both with Montessori quotes on them.

Explore our collection of quote posters and find the perfect ones for your students. Purchase today to brighten your classroom and inspire your students every day!

The Wrap-Up: 65 Short Quotes for Students

Incorporating short quotes for students into the classroom is a powerful way to foster motivation, inspiration, and a love of learning. These quotes help students navigate challenges, build resilience, and stay focused on their educational journey.

The right words at the right time can inspire greatness. Use these short quotes to uplift and motivate your students, propelling them toward a bright and successful future.

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