120 Thankful Quotes to Change Your Perspective

These thankful quotes will help you look at your life through a new lens.

Life can be hard, and everyone goes through difficult periods from time to time.

During those times, it’s easy to only focus on the bad things.

Tell us your favorite thankful quote in the comment section below.

What are the benefits of reading these thankful quotes?

The more you focus on the bad, the harder it is to notice the good things that you have in your life.

That’s why it’s so important to keep a mindset of gratitude at all times.

Focusing on what you’re thankful for instead of all the problems in your life can change how you think of everything.

Being thankful and focusing on the positive can:

• lower your stress and pain levels
• increase your physical and mental well-being
• improve your heart health and lower your risk of illness

Below is our collection of inspirational, wise, and thoughtful thankful quotes and sayings collected from various sources over the years.

Also, check out these gratitude quotes celebrating life and love.

If you like this article, we suggest you explore our most popular quotes article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily encouragement.

Check out more inspirational quotes on our motivational quotes category page.

Thankful quotes for when you feel like you don’t have enough

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

2. “If you want to find happiness, find gratitude.”— Steve Maraboli

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

4. “I have a lot to be thankful for. I am healthy, happy and I am loved.” – Reba McEntire

You will also enjoy our article on ungrateful quotes.

5. “I’m just thankful I’m surrounded by good people.” – Jon Pardi

You will also enjoy our article on November quotes.

6. “There’s no happier person than a truly thankful, content person.” – Joyce Meyer

7. “We don’t need more to be thankful for, we just need to be more thankful.” – Carlos Castaneda

8. “Sometimes the little things in life mean the most.” – Ellen Hopkins

You will also enjoy our article on generosity quotes.

9. “When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength.” – Tecumseh

10. “Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.” – Horace

Thankful Quotes for appreciating your family

11. “My advice: Take a second out of the day and be thankful for your family.” – Jenna Morasca

You will also enjoy our article on gratitude quotes.

12. “Family is the most important thing in the world.” – Princess Diana

You will also enjoy our article on transformation quotes.

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

You will also enjoy our article on Friday quotes.

14. “I am thankful for each and every day that I am blessed to receive, to spend in this life with my family.” – Karen Madewell

15. “Rest and be thankful.” – William Wordsworth

16. “The most important thing in the world is family and love.” – John Wooden

17. “Family is a unique gift that needs to be appreciated and treasured, even when they’re driving you crazy. As much as they make you mad, interrupt you, annoy you, curse at you, try to control you, these are the people who know you the best and who love you.” – Jenna Morasca

18. “The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.” – Lee Lacocca

Thankful quotes on the power of gratitude

19. “It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich!” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

20. “You ought to be thankful a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not!” – Dr. Seuss

21. “Gratitude is something of which none of us can give too much. For on the smiles, the thanks we give, our little gestures of appreciation, our neighbors build their philosophy of life.”- A.J. Cronin

22. “Without gratitude and appreciation for what you already have, you’ll never know true fulfillment.” – Tony Robbins

23. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” —Oprah Winfrey

24. “An attitude of gratitude brings great things.”— Yogi Bhajan

25. “When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.”—Tecumseh

26. “…I’m so thankful for friendship. It beautifies life so much.” – L.M. Montgomery

27. “Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, to work, to play, and to look up at the stars.” – Henry Van Dyke

28. “The best way to appreciate life is to be grateful.” – Wisdom Kwashie Mensah

29. “When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out, and the tide of love rushes in.” — Kristin Armstrong

30. “Gratitude is one of the most medicinal emotions we can feel. It elevates our moods and fills us with joy.” — Sara Avant Stover

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

Inspiration thankful quotes

32. “When you are grateful – when you can see what you have – you unlock blessings to flow in your life.” – Suze Orman

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

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

35. “There is something that happens when you are grateful: You continue to keep receiving blessings. So I will always be grateful.” — Chrissy Metz

36. “Blessed are those who give without remembering and take without forgetting.” – Elizabeth Bibesco

37. “I’m thankful for every moment.” – Al Green

38. “Thankfulness, gratitude and being able to serve others are the foundation of character.”- Jim Loehr

39. “If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.”- W. Clement Stone

40. “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life.” – Gerald Good

Being thankful for friends quotes

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

42. “Since our yesterdays are gone and tomorrow is never promised, today I want to thank all my amazing friends and family for being in my life.”- Steven Aitchison

43. “I’m always grateful for this moment, the now, no matter what it takes.”- Eckhart Tolle

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

45. “I am what I am, I am doing very well in my life, and I’m thankful to God for that.”- LL Cool J

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

47. “When a person doesn’t have gratitude, something is missing in his or her humanity.” – Elie Wiesel

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

49. “Thank you for life and all the little ups and downs that make it worth living.” – Travis Barker

50. “I never met a bitter person who was thankful. Or a thankful person who was bitter.” – Nick Vujicic

Don’t forget to read these manifestation quotes that will elevate your perspective.

Other thankful quotes to brighten your day

51. “Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it’s all an experience.” – Roy T. Bennett

52. “Thanks for this day, for all birds safe in their nests, for whatever this is, for life.” – Barbara Kingsolver

53. “Life is the most important thing. I thank God for the gift of life.” – Lailah Gifty Akita

54. “When you practice gratefulness, there is a sense of respect towards others.” – Dalai Lama

55. “When life is sweet, say thank you and celebrate. And when life is bitter, say thank you and grow.” – Shauna Niequist

56. “Be thankful for the moments, the things you have, and the life you live.” – Wazim Shaw

57. “So grateful for the people who heard me when I was silent and saw me when I was invisible.” – Steve Maraboli

58. “Saying thank you is more than good manners, it is good spirituality.” – Alfred Agache

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

60. “Let all your thinks be thanks.” – W.H. Auden

Inspirational Thankful Quotes

61. “The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” – James E. Faust

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

63. “We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning.” – Albert Barnes

64. “Reflect upon your present blessings – of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” – Charles Dickens

65. “We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.” – Henry A. Ironside

66. “It’s a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.” – Germany Kent

67. “Don’t let the sun go down without saying thank you to someone, and without admitting to yourself that absolutely no one gets this far alone.” – Stephen King

68. “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” – Epicurus

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

70. “Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

Inspirational Thankful Quotes to Express Your Appreciation and Be Grateful

71. “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

72. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgiving, turn routine jobs into joy and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward

73. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero

74. “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton

75. “Take full account of what excellencies you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker after them, if you had them not.” – Marcus Aurelius

76. “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

77. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.” – Melody Beattie

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

79. “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

80. “Gratitude goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift.” – Henri J. M. Nouwen

Thankful Quotes To Help Others Find Joy in Gratefulness

81. “My first thought in the morning is thank you for another day.” ― Karon Waddell

82. “Gratefulness heightens awareness.” ― A.D. Posey

83. “A great life evolves with gratitude.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

84. “Thanksgiving is an attitude that must be rooted in the ‘gift of life’ if we ever hope to be thankful for the ‘gifts’ of life.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough

85. “Have the wisdom to perceive all there is to be thankful for, and then be thankful for the wisdom to perceive things so clearly.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich

86. “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

87. “You will find joy in everyday life with a heart of thankfulness.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

88. “The more grateful you are, the more your life overflows with abundance.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

89. “Be thankful for the disasters that warn you clearly before they come!” ― Mehmet Murat ildan

90. “When things are bad, be thankful…they are not as bad as they could be.” ― Dixie Waters

Blessed and thankful quotes

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

92. “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” —W. T. Purkiser

93. “For me, every hour is grace. And I feel gratitude in my heart each time I can meet someone and look at his or her smile.”—Elie Wiesel

94. “I’m blessed and I thank God for every day for everything that happens for me.” – Lil Wayne

95. “Strive to find things to be thankful for, and just look for the good in who you are.”—Bethany Hamilton

96. “Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayer and worn with thanks.” – Thomas Goodwin

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

98. “When I look back on my life as a whole, it is impossible for me not to feel blessed.”  – George Best

99. “Before I get out of bed, I am saying thank you. I know how important it is to be thankful.”—Al Jarreau

100. “I’m too grateful to be hateful. I am too blessed to be stressed.” – El DeBarge

Thankful Quotes To Encourage The Light Of Gratitude into Your Life

101. “We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.” — John F. Kennedy

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

103. “Express gratitude for the greatness of small things.” ― Richie Norton

104. “Always be thankful for the little things… even the smallest mountains can hide the most breathtaking views!” – Nyki Mack

105. “Be grateful in your own hearts. That suffices. Thanksgiving has wings, and flies to its right destination.” —Victor Hugo

106. “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

107. “Gratitude is not just about being thankful for the good things in our life; it is about being thankful for everything in our life.” ― Nadine Sadaka Boulos

108. “Saying thank you is more than good manners, it is good spirituality.” — Alfred Painter

109. “The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.” — Douglas Wood

110. “To be thankful for one thing is infinitely more powerful than to be bitter about a hundred others.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough

Thankfu Quotes for the Art Of Appreciation

111. “Be thankful for problems. If they were less difficult, someone with less ability might have your job.” ― Jim Lovell

112. “In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.” ― H. L. Mencken

113. “If you can’t be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.” ― Izaak Walton

114. “It’s not easy being grateful all the time. But it’s when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you.” ― Oprah Winfrey

115. “Every time we remember to say “thank you”, we experience nothing less than heaven on earth.” ― Sarah Ban Breathnach

116. “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

117. “Imitate until you emulate; match and surpass those who launched you. It’s the highest form of thankfulness.” ― Mark Victor Hansen

118. “Work hard, don’t quit, be appreciative, be thankful, be grateful, be respectful, also to never whine ever, never complain, and, always, for crying out loud, keep a sense of humor.” ― Michael Keaton

119. “Life is beautiful. You have to be thankful that we are living. Wherever you look is beauty. I know about the bad things, but I look for the good things.” ― Alice Herz-Sommer

120. “How can I find the shining word, the glowing phrase that tells all that your love has meant to me, all that your friendship spells? There is no word, no phrase for you on whom I so depend. All I can say to you is this, God bless you precious friend.” ― Grace Noll Crowell

What are you thankful for?

Hopefully, reading through these quotes helped you think of the things you’re thankful for in your life.

Gratitude is powerful and can change your outlook and attitude in the future.

However, it’s important to understand that gratitude is not a one-and-done thing.

If you don’t continue to think about the things you’re thankful for, it’s easy to forget.

That’s why you should take at least a few minutes out of each day to think about those things.

It can also be helpful to keep a gratitude list that you can read when you need to be reminded of all those things.

What’s your biggest takeaway from these thankful quotes and sayings?

Do you have any other inspirational quotes to add?

Let us know in the comment section below.