50 Most Inspiring Kids’ Quotes About Life, Success, and the Things That Really Matter
Updated: Nov. 18, 2021You'll want to share these kids' quotes: uplifting and wise words for and about the future generation.
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Empowering kids’ quotes for the future generation
The idea that “children are the future” might be a bit of a cliché…but that’s only because of the poignancy and truth to it! Children and young people represent a whole lot to people: legacy and hope, joy and innocence. These are our favorite quotes about kids, how important they are, and how we could all benefit from being a little more like them. Between uplifting quotes that help guide young ones on how to live and parenting quotes with some advice on how to start them off right, this list of kids’ quotes provides great reminders of how special young people are. Of course, parents are often a massive part of making children who they are; these mom quotes and dad quotes celebrate that. Kids and the inspiration they provide are certainly things to be grateful for—and these gratitude quotes will help you embrace that sentiment!
“Mix a little foolishness with your serious plans. It is lovely to be silly at the right moment.” —Horace, ancient Roman poet
“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.” —Maria Montessori, education philosopher and physician. Kids’ quotes can certainly provide a lot of hope; read these hope quotes to boost that feeling too.
“Children are like wet cement: whatever falls on them makes an impression.” —Haim Ginott, educator and child psychologist. Perhaps a goofy comparison…but true! Read these other funny quotes that’ll make you chuckle.
“Let us remember: one book, one pen, one child and one teacher can change the world.” —Malala Yousafzai, education activist and Nobel Prize laureate. Read these teaching and education quotes that inspire a love of learning.
“What it’s like to be a parent: It’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever do but in exchange it teaches you the meaning of unconditional love.” —Nicholas Sparks, author, in The Notebook
“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires and a touch that never hurts.” —Charles Dickens, author
“Old men can make war, but it is children who will make history.” —Ray Merritt, author. Plenty of these inspirational quotes for kids are also great leadership quotes!
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” —Nelson Mandela, philanthropist and former president of South Africa
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” —James Baldwin, writer and activist. This children quote reminds us that kids are always watching to see how we behave—we must be good role models! Read more wise words from James Baldwin, too.
“Every child is born a genius.” —Buckminster Fuller, architect and inventor. How’s that for motivational quotes for kids?
“Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind.” —C.S. Lewis. If the kiddos in your life are all grown up, share these graduation quotes with them.
“We must teach our children to dream with their eyes open.” —Harry Edwards, sociologist, activist, and author. We love these positive quotes for kids—they make great confidence quotes as well!
“Pretty much all the honest truth telling there is in the world is done by children.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” —John F. Kennedy, former U.S. president
“Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.” —Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author, Le Petit Prince. His masterpiece happens to be one of the 100 books we think you should read in your lifetime.
“If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders.” —Abigail Van Buren, “Dear Abby” advice columnist
“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” —Mahatma Gandhi, lawyer and activist
“We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.”
“No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness, and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.” —Emma Goldman, writer and political philosopher. These kindness quotes emphasize that virtue as well.
“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.” —Walt Streightiff, educator
“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” —Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and orator. Read these other powerful strength quotes too.
“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.” —Lady Bird Johnson, former U.S. First Lady
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” —Fred Rogers. Next, continue the optimism for the next generation with these quotes about change that will inspire you for the future.
