33 Emotional Quotes That Capture the True Meaning of Thanksgiving
There’s a feeling that settles in the air as
Thanksgiving approaches—a warmth that goes
beyond the crisp autumn weather.
It’s a quiet hum of reflection that cuts through the bustle of preparations.
This holiday, at its heart, is a pause button.
It’s a dedicated moment to look around,
at the people gathered and the plates being passed, and to look within,
at the quiet blessings that have anchored us through the year.
It’s about more than a feast;
it’s about the feeling of fullness that comes from a grateful heart.
Let these words remind you of the profound, simple,
and deeply emotional spirit of the season.
Quotes
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” — William Arthur Ward
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” — John F. Kennedy
“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” — Dalai Lama
“Thanksgiving is a time of quiet reflection on the countless blessings we have received.” — Anonymous
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward
“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” — Albert Schweitzer
“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” — Jean-Baptiste Massieu
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” — Henri Frederic Amiel
“Forever on Thanksgiving Day, the heart will find the pathway home.” — Wilbur D. Nesbit
“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” — W.J. Cameron
“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” — Henry David Thoreau
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie
“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” — James E. Faust
“Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.” — Jonathan Safran Foer
“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” — Henry Van Dyke
“For flowers that bloom about our feet; For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet; For song of bird, and hum of bee; For all things fair we hear or see, Father in heaven, we thank Thee!” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, one by one, as they come to you.” — Anonymous
“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” — Cicero
“Thanksgiving is a symbol of peace and the unbroken circle of love that should bind families together.” — Anonymous
“There is no such thing as gratitude unexpressed. If it is unexpressed, it is plain, old-fashioned ingratitude.” — Robert Brault
“The world has enough beautiful mountains and meadows, spectacular skies and serene lakes. It has enough lush forests, flowered fields, and sandy beaches. It has plenty of stars and the promise of a new sunrise and sunset every day. What the world needs more of is people to appreciate and enjoy it.” — Michael Josephson
“Gratitude is the wine for the soul. Go on. Get drunk.” — Rumi
“Thanksgiving is the one day a year that is specifically devoted to the celebration of family, friendship, and the blessings of the harvest.” — Anonymous
“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” — Cicero
“On Thanksgiving, we acknowledge the dependability of our blessings and the certainty of our connections.” — Anonymous
“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self-preoccupation.” — John Ortberg
“Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to reflect on the things that matter most in life.” — Anonymous
“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder
“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!” — Henry Ward Beecher
“Thanksgiving is a beacon of comfort, a reminder that even in the coldest times, there is warmth to be found in gratitude.” — Anonymous
“Gratitude is the music of the heart, to which the chords of heaven vibrate in harmonious response.” — Edwin H. Chapin
“Thanksgiving isn’t just a day. It’s a way we can live our lives every day.” — Anonymous
