150 Quotes About Appreciation and Thanks to Lift Your Spirit

I remember a few years ago, I was going through a particularly demanding stretch at work. I was putting in long hours, missing dinners with my family, and starting to feel like I was just a cog in a giant, indifferent machine. One Tuesday afternoon, my manager stopped by my desk, not to ask for another report, but simply to hand me a sticky note that said: “I see how hard you’re working, and I truly appreciate it.”

That tiny piece of paper changed everything. My workload hadn’t decreased, but my energy had shifted. I felt seen. I felt valued. It reminded me that while we often think of gratitude as something we feel, it’s most powerful when it’s something we share. That small act of appreciation fueled me for weeks.

Since then, I’ve made it a habit to look for ways to say thank you more often—to my partner for the morning coffee, to my friends for their listening ears, and even to myself for showing up on the hard days. These quotes about appreciation and thanks are a collection of the words that have inspired me to be more vocal about the good I see in the world. I hope they help you find the right way to express your own gratitude today.

Heartfelt Quotes About Appreciation and Gratitude

Gratitude is more than just a polite response; it’s a way of seeing the world. When we focus on what we appreciate, we start to see beauty in places we previously overlooked. These quotes capture the essence of what it means to live with a grateful heart. I’ve found that reading through these when I’m feeling a bit “lacking” helps me realize how much abundance is actually around me.

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul.” — Henry Ward Beecher

This reminds me that gratitude isn’t something external—it’s something we cultivate from within.

“Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” — Voltaire

When we appreciate someone else’s talent or kindness, we are essentially inviting that same goodness into our own lives.

“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” — Dalai Lama

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie

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

“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

This is a powerful reminder that our actions should reflect our thanks. If you’re looking for more ways to stay consistent in your values, these discipline quotes can help.

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” — Cicero

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward

“When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.” — Tony Robbins

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” — Epictetus

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Anonymous

“The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.” — Hannah Whitall Smith

“Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.” — Aesop

“A grateful mind is a great mind which eventually attracts to itself great things.” — Plato

Inspiring Words of Thanks for Friends and Family

Our inner circle—the people who know our messiest versions and love us anyway—deserve our deepest thanks. Yet, they are often the ones we take for granted the most. I’ve personally tried to be more intentional about sending “just because” thank you texts to my siblings and best friends. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture; it just has to be sincere.

“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” — Thomas Aquinas

“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” — William Shakespeare

“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — Michael J. Fox

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

This beautiful sentiment captures the humility required to accept love and support. For a deeper dive into the science of how these connections impact our well-being, the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has some fascinating research.

“Friends are the siblings God never gave us.” — Mencius

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” — Charles Kuralt

“I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” — Helen Keller

“The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.” — Hubert H. Humphrey

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it.” — Wilferd Peterson

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” — Dr. Seuss

“A single rose can be my garden… a single friend, my world.” — Leo Buscaglia

“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.” — Albert Einstein

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.” — Anthony Brandt

“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.” — Woodrow Wilson

Professional Appreciation Quotes for Work and Colleagues

As I mentioned earlier, professional appreciation is a massive motivator. In the workplace, a culture of thanks can transform productivity and morale. I’ve seen teams go from burnt-out to brilliant just because the leadership started acknowledging individual contributions. These quotes are perfect for LinkedIn posts, Slack messages, or even written notes to your teammates.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” — Margaret Cousins

“The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” — Charles Schwab

“No one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.” — Alfred North Whitehead

This is so true in business. If you’re working toward your next big milestone, checking out our motivational success quotes might give you that extra push.

“Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude.” — Ralph Marston

“Management is nothing more than motivating other people.” — Lee Iacocca

“Next to excellence is the appreciation of it.” — William Makepeace Thackeray

“Brainy people like to be appreciated.” — Maya Angelou

“The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” — William James

“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” — Michael Jordan

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” — Henry Ford

“Individual commitment to a group effort—that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” — Vince Lombardi

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

“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” — Phil Jackson

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” — Henry Ford

“Appreciate everything your associates do for the business. Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise. They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune.” — Sam Walton

Short Quotes About Saying Thank You

Sometimes, the simplest words are the most profound. You don’t always need a long speech to show you care. I often keep a few of these short quotes in my head for when I want to add a quick “P.S.” to an email or sign off on a card. They get straight to the point without losing any of their heart.

“Thank you is the best prayer that anyone could say.” — Alice Walker

“Silent gratitude isn’t very much to anyone.” — Gertrude Stein

Don’t keep it inside! For more on the psychological benefits of expressing yourself, Psychology Today offers great insights into the “gratitude muscle.”

“One word, ‘thanks,’ is often enough.” — Anonymous

“Always have a grateful heart.” — Anonymous

“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” — Hausa Proverb

“Enough is a feast.” — Buddhist Proverb

“Gratitude is a divine emotion.” — Charlotte Brontë

“Thanksgiving is a verb.” — Anonymous

“Gratitude is my attitude.” — Anonymous

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” — Oprah Winfrey

“Count your blessings.” — Anonymous

“Thank you for being.” — Anonymous

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

“A thankful heart is a happy heart.” — Anonymous

“Grace is gratitude.” — Anonymous

Deep Appreciation Quotes for Life’s Lessons

Not everything we appreciate is “good” in the moment. Some of my most valuable lessons came from my hardest failures. It took me years to realize that I could be thankful for the struggle as much as the triumph. These quotes speak to that deeper, more complex form of appreciation—the kind that recognizes the value in the rain as much as the sun.

“Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice.” — Joseph B. Wirthlin

“I am grateful for my struggle because, without it, I wouldn’t have stumbled across my strength.” — Alex Elle

This resonates deeply with me. If you’re currently in a season of grinding, our collection of hard work quotes might help you find meaning in the effort.

“The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” — Neale Donald Walsch

“I’m grateful for every scar, some pages of my life are best left unread.” — Unknown

“Be grateful for what you have while you pursue what you want.” — Jim Rohn

“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” — Rumi

“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.” — Amy Collette

“When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” — Willie Nelson

“Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift.” — John Ortberg

“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

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” — Maya Angelou

“Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.” — Denis Waitley

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” — Brené Brown

“The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see.” — Mary Davis

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.” — Melody Beattie

Famous Quotes About the Power of Appreciation

History is full of giants who understood that appreciation was the secret sauce to a life well-lived. From world leaders to poets, these voices remind us that gratitude is a universal human need. I like to look at these when I need a reminder that I’m part of a long tradition of people trying to live with more awareness and thanks.

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you’?” — William Arthur Ward

“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.” — Alan Cohen

“Whatever we are waiting for—peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance—it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” — Henry Ward Beecher

“If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.” — Frank A. Clark

“Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.” — Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

“The greatest humiliation in life is to work hard on something from which you expect great appreciation, and then fail to get it.” — E. W. Howe

This highlights why it’s so important for us to be the ones giving the appreciation. If you want to build stronger foundations in your relationships, these relationship quotes offer great wisdom.

“True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.” — George Washington

“Appreciation is a currency that costs nothing but yields huge returns.” — Unknown

“If you want to turn your life around, try gratitude. It will change your life mightily.” — Gerald Good

“Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.” — Seneca

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” — G.K. Chesterton

“Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.” — William Shakespeare

“I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.” — Anonymous

“An appreciative word is often more powerful than a physical gift.” — Unknown

Uplifting Quotes of Thanks to Boost Your Spirit

Sometimes we just need a little lift. On those gray mornings when everything feels like a chore, focusing on thanks can be the light that breaks through. I’ve found that doing a “gratitude dump” in my journal—just listing 10 things I’m thankful for—can completely reset my mood. These quotes are like a concentrated version of that exercise.

“Start each day with a positive thought and a grateful heart.” — Anonymous

“Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices.” — Robert Breathnach

“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.” — Robert Holden

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.” — Zig Ziglar

For more on the physical health benefits, check out this article from Harvard Health.

“If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.” — Robert Quillen

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” — Tony Robbins

“The heart that ofter says ‘thank you’ is the heart that is most full of joy.” — Unknown

“A tiny ‘thank you’ can go a long way in making someone’s day.” — Anonymous

“Appreciation is the medicine of the soul.” — Unknown

“Every day is a gift, that is why they call it the present.” — Anonymous

“Look at everything as though you were seeing it for the first or last time.” — Betty Smith

“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” — Johannes Gaertner

“Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplating everything you have to be grateful for.” — Wayne Dyer

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” — William Faulkner

Beautiful Sayings for Gratitude and Recognition

Recognition is one of the most powerful forms of appreciation. When we recognize someone’s effort, character, or presence, we are telling them they matter. These sayings are a great way to think about how you can offer that recognition to the people in your life.

“Recognition is a reward in itself.” — Unknown

“A little appreciation goes a long way.” — Anonymous

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” — Randy Pausch

“The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.” — William James

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” — Mother Teresa

“Don’t let the sun go down without saying thank you to someone who helped you today.” — Unknown

“Gratitude is the bridge to a more fulfilling life.” — Unknown

“Recognition is the greatest motivator.” — Gerard C. Eakedale

“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common objects.” — Henry Ward Beecher

“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

“To be grateful is to find blessings in everything.” — Unknown

“May your heart be full and your spirit be bright.” — Anonymous

“Appreciation is a form of love.” — Unknown

“Thank you for the light you bring into the world.” — Anonymous

“A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.” — Unknown

Timeless Appreciation Quotes for Every Occasion

Some quotes don’t fit into a single box because they are so universal. These are the ones that have stood the test of time, resonating across cultures and centuries. Whether you’re looking for a quote for a wedding toast, a graduation card, or just a moment of quiet reflection, these timeless words provide the perfect anchor.

“History is the biography of great men.” — Thomas Carlyle

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” — William Shakespeare

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children… to leave the world a bit better… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” — Bessie Anderson Stanley

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” — Mother Teresa

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” — Mother Teresa

“It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving.” — Mother Teresa

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.” — Walt Whitman

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” — Khalil Gibran

“Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” — French Proverb

Powerful Words for Appreciation and Gratitude

As we wrap up this collection, I want to leave you with a challenge. Don’t just read these quotes and move on. Take one—just one—and send it to someone you appreciate today. Whether it’s a colleague, a parent, or the person who makes your sandwich at lunch, let them know you see them. The world needs more people who are brave enough to be thankful out loud.

“The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.” — Friedrich Nietzsche

“Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.” — Samuel Butler

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” — Jean-Baptiste Massieu

“The more you use gratitude, the more you have.” — Unknown

“Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it. Life is a challenge - meet it. Life is a dream - realize it. Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.” — Sai Baba

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.” — Tecumseh

“Thanksgiving is a time of togetherness and gratitude.” — Nigel Hamilton

“Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.” — William Faulkner

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” — William Blake

“Gratitude is the open door to abundance.” — Unknown

“Thank you for the journey.” — Anonymous

“Every breath is a gift.” — Unknown

“Appreciation is the key to happiness.” — Unknown

“Live life with an open heart.” — Anonymous

“Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” — 2 Corinthians 9:15

I truly hope these quotes help you express the appreciation you feel. If you’re looking for more inspiration, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to gratitude quotes for even more ways to celebrate the good in your life.