Thanksgiving is a holiday centered on gratitude, family gatherings, and of course, a delicious feast. The tradition began in 1621, when the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest meal in Plymouth. Although celebrations varied across the colonies, President Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863 during the Civil War. Since then Thanksgiving has been celebrated for more than 160 years as an official holiday, making it one of the nation’s longest-standing traditions of unity and gratitude.
Sharing Thanksgiving quotes is a thoughtful way to express appreciation, bring warmth to your table, or add a touch of humor to the season. Whether you’re writing cards, toasting during dinner, or sending messages to loved ones, the right words can make the day even more meaningful.
Below, you’ll find over 100 Thanksgiving quotes, sayings, and messages organized by theme. From heartfelt to funny, and from family-focused to friend-centered, these words are perfect for capturing the spirit of the holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving Quotes
These Happy Thanksgiving quotes are ideal for cards, dinner notes, or simply sharing with loved ones on the holiday.
- “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Anonymous
- “Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.” – Nigel Hamilton
- “The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings.” – James E. Faust
- “Give thanks not only on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life.” – Catherine Pulsifer
- “Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it reminds us to give thanks and to count our blessings.” – Joyce Giraud
- “Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” – Rumi
- “Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life.” – William Jennings Bryan
- “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” – Cicero
- “Forever on Thanksgiving Day, the heart will find the pathway home.” – Wilbur D. Nesbit
Funny Thanksgiving Quotes
Laughter always has a place at the table. These funny Thanksgiving quotes are perfect for lightening the mood.
- “Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” – Erma Bombeck
- “After a good dinner, one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” – Oscar Wilde
- “Thanksgiving is so called because we are all so thankful that it only comes once a year.” – P.J. O’Rourke
- “I suppose I will die never knowing what pumpkin pie tastes like when you have room for it.” – Robert Brault
- “An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.” – Irv Kupcinet
- “Thanksgiving is the day men start getting in shape… to play Santa Claus.” – Melanie White
- “A new survey found that 80% of men claim they help cook Thanksgiving dinner. Which makes sense, when you hear they consider saying ‘that smells good’ to be helping.” – Jimmy Fallon
- “Coexistence: What the farmer does with the turkey — until Thanksgiving.” – Mike Connolly
- “I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage.” – Erma Bombeck
- “Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, one by one, as each relative goes home.” – Melanie White
Thanksgiving Quotes for Family
Family is at the heart of Thanksgiving. These quotes highlight the love and connection shared around the table.
- “Family is not an important thing, it’s everything.” – Michael J. Fox
- “Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.” – Amy Leigh Mercree
- “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” – George Santayana
- “Thanksgiving reminds us of the importance of family ties.” – Anonymous
- “At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable.” – Mark V. Olsen
- “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.” – Robert Frost
- “Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness.” – John C. Maxwell
- “The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.” – Anonymous
- “The memories we make with our family are everything.” – Candace Cameron Bure
- “Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.” – Irina Shayk
Thanksgiving Quotes for Friends
Friends are the family we choose. These quotes capture the joy of sharing Thanksgiving with them.
- “A friend is what the heart needs all the time.” – Henry Van Dyke
- “Friends are the siblings God never gave us.” – Mencius
- “Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity.” – Kahlil Gibran
- “Good friends are like stars. You don’t always see them, but you know they’re always there.” – Anonymous
- “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” – Edna Buchanan
- “Thanksgiving with friends is sometimes even more fun than with family.” – Anonymous
- “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.” – Kahlil Gibran
- “True friendship multiplies the good in life.” – Baltasar Gracián
- “Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world.” – John Evelyn
- “Thanksgiving with friends reminds us that gratitude is best when shared.” – Anonymous
Quotes About the Act of Giving
- “No one has ever become poor by giving.” – Anne Frank
- “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
- “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” – Pablo Picasso
- “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa
- “The act of giving is the greatest expression of gratitude.” – Anonymous
- “Giving is not just about making a donation, it is about making a difference.” – Kathy Calvin
- “Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” – Ben Carson
- “To give freely is to receive joyfully.” – Anonymous
- “The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.” – Pierre Corneille
Short Thanksgiving Quotes
Sometimes, simple words carry the most meaning. These short Thanksgiving quotes are easy to add to cards or social posts.
- “Gratitude is riches.” – Doris Day
- “Thanksgiving is gratitude in action.” – Anonymous
- “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” – Melody Beattie
- “Give thanks with a grateful heart.” – Anonymous
- “Blessed are those who give without remembering and receive without forgetting.” – Anonymous
- “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
- “Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” – Aesop
- “Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – G.K. Chesterton
- “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” – Gertrude Stein
- “Be present in all things and thankful for all things.” – Maya Angelou
Thanksgiving Quotes for Co-Workers
Thanksgiving is also a time to appreciate the people you work with every day. These quotes are thoughtful ways to express gratitude to colleagues.
- ”Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” – William Arthur Ward
- “No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” – Alfred North Whitehead
- “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” – Helen Keller
- “Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs
- “Colleagues are the people who share your work journey and make the load lighter.” – Anonymous
- “Thanksgiving is the perfect time to thank those who support, collaborate, and inspire us daily.” – Anonymous
- “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.” – Anonymous
- “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” – Voltaire
- “Gratitude is the best attitude in both life and work.” – Anonymous
- “This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the dedication, creativity, and teamwork of my colleagues.” – Anonymous
Inspirational Thanksgiving Quotes
These quotes inspire reflection on gratitude and giving thanks year-round.
- “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” – W. Clement Stone
- “Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” – Henry Ward Beecher
- “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” – Dalai Lama
- “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty.” – Charles Dickens
- “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
- “Gratitude is not only the memory but the homage of the heart.” – Jean Baptiste Massieu
- “Thankfulness is the quickest path to joy.” – Jefferson Bethke
- “Gratitude paints little smiley faces on everything it touches.” – Richelle E. Goodrich
- “Thanksgiving is an affirmation of life.” – Anonymous
- “The more you practice gratitude, the more you see what there is to be grateful for.” – Oprah Winfrey
Spiritual Thanksgiving Quotes
For many, Thanksgiving is also a time of spiritual reflection. These quotes connect gratitude with mindfulness and a deeper sense of purpose.
- “Gratitude is the gateway to a life of abundance.” – Anonymous
- “When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect toward others.” – Dalai Lama
- “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” – Mary Davis
- “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
- “Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.” – Maya Angelou
- “Gratitude lifts our souls and connects us to something greater than ourselves.” – Anonymous
- “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder
- “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies.” – John Milton
- “The spiritual path begins with gratitude for what already is.” – Anonymous
- “Gratitude is the wine for the soul. Go on. Get drunk.” – Rumi
Thanksgiving Quotes About Abundance
- “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.” – Melody Beattie
- “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” – Eckhart Tolle
- “Abundance is not about how much you have, but how you feel about what you have.” – Anonymous
- “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.” – Hausa Proverb
- “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “True abundance is found not in possessions, but in gratitude.” – Anonymous
- “When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” – Tony Robbins
- “He who thanks but with the lips thanks but in part; the full, the true Thanksgiving comes from the heart.” – J.A. Shedd
Sarcastic Thanksgiving Quotes
- “Thanksgiving: because one day of gluttony a year is socially acceptable.” – Anonymous
- “I’m thankful for elastic waistbands.” – Anonymous
- “Thanksgiving is that magical time when calories don’t count… or so I tell myself.” – Anonymous
- “Nothing brings out family tension like carving knives and politics at the dinner table.” – Anonymous
- “Gratitude is great, but let’s be honest, I’m here for the pie.” – Anonymous
Thanksgiving Captions for Social Media
- “Grateful, thankful, blessed.”
- “Pass the turkey and the gratitude.”
- “Thankful today and every day.”
- “Pumpkin spice and everything nice.”
- “Eat, drink, and be thankful.”
- “Leftovers are for quitters.”
- “Serving looks and turkey.”
- “Gather, give thanks, and feast.”
- “Feast mode: on.”
- “Happiness is homemade this Thanksgiving.”
Give Thanks with Flowers
Thanksgiving is about gratitude and connection, and flowers are a beautiful way to express both. Whether you are hosting family or visiting friends, fresh blooms add warmth to any holiday table. If you are looking for inspiration, check out our Thanksgiving flower tips. For a full seasonal selection, explore The Bouqs Co. Thanksgiving bouquets. If you’re preparing to welcome guests, our guide to hosting Thanksgiving will help you create a welcoming space filled with gratitude and beauty.
This Thanksgiving, celebrate the holiday with words of thanks, moments of laughter, and flowers that brighten every gathering.
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