12 of the Best Gratitude Quotes + Picture Quotes

Beyond the good eats, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on who and what you’re grateful for – even mundane things like toilet paper, running water or ten fingers will do. Gratitude is one of the most powerful life-changing attitudes to possess  – an essential key to happiness and peace of mind – no matter what you’re going through. In honor of the holiday, here are some of the best gratitude quotes to strengthen those thankful muscles.

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr

“It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.” ~ Naomi Williams

“Everyday, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.” – Dalai Lama

“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

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

“We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder

“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

“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

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

“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

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

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

What’s your favorite ‘attitude of gratitude’ quote? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.

Gratitude Tools

Whether you want to go old school or high tech, here are some tools for upping the appreciation factor:

Start a journal or make a word document like the one below. Write down 10 things everyday for 30 days and see how it changes your life.

Happy Tapper’s Gratitude IPhone App ($.99) – With built in reminders, this app (a fav of Oprah’s) is designed to help you remember to jot down 5 things your grateful for each day. The app stores journal entries with any photos you’d like to upload so you easily scroll though your previous entries and see just how awesome your life really is.

P.S. – We’re grateful for you. Thank you for your encouragement and enthusiasm about voyaging like a vixen…

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!