Thanksgiving Quotations
If you are the one asked to say something before the meal and you would rather not give a speech, a single short line is enough. These thanksgiving quotations are written to be read in one breath, passed around on place cards or tucked into a lunchbox. There are 28 original lines for the family table, kids and a funny toast, plus eight Bible verses to look up for a blessing. Pick one, say it slowly, and then pass the potatoes.
What Thanksgiving quotes are good for
Most quote pages give you a long list and leave you to sort it out. I would rather sort it for you by where you will actually use each line. Eeshan would probably want the shortest card on the stack, and Vihaan would probably want to know whether the funny ones are allowed at the table. They are, and they go last, after everyone has stopped being nervous about reading out loud.
I wrote every line myself. None has a famous name attached, and nothing is borrowed from a quote database. That also means you can print them with a link back to this page, and nobody has to chase down who said what. If you want a gentler, more reflective set first, our humble grateful quotes cover mornings, family and prayer.
| Group | Lines | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Family table | 12 | Place cards, a toast before the meal, holiday cards |
| Kids | 8 | Reading aloud, coloring on a card, a note in a lunchbox |
| Funny | 8 | A toast, a group text, the end of the meal |
| Bible verses | 8 references | A blessing, a printed program, quiet reading |
Short Thanksgiving quotations for the family table
I plan to print a few of these on small cards and set one at each plate this Thanksgiving. Eeshan would probably take the job of handing them out, and I would let him, even if the cards end up in the wrong order. These twelve work as quotations of thanksgiving you can read aloud, because each one is one sentence or two short ones. Say one before the meal, or leave the cards face down and let people turn them over when they sit.
“
The best seat at the table is the one next to someone you are glad to see.
A table full of chairs is a table full of people who made room for you.
I am thankful for the hands that cooked, the hands that carried and the hands that cleaned up.
Before we eat, a thank you to everyone who showed up, and to everyone who could not.
We are not a perfect family, but we are a loud, fed and thankful one.
Thankful for the grandparents who taught us to say grace and the kids who rush through it.
Gratitude tastes better when it is passed around the table with the potatoes.
A holiday is only as good as the people who share the leftovers.
I am thankful for the long drive, the late flight and the open door at the end of it.
Today I will look around the table, count the people and forget the rest.
Home is wherever the pie is, and whoever saved me a slice.
Say it plainly this year: thank you for being here.
Saidesh
Thanksgiving quotations for kids to read
Kids do best with lines they can finish in one breath, so these eight use simple words and short sentences. Vihaan would probably read his out loud twice, once for himself and once for the room. A child who is just learning to read can sound most of them out, and a younger one can repeat them after you. If you want more simple lines for beginning readers, our reading quotes for kids are a good next stop.
“
Thank you for my food, my family and my warm bed.
I am thankful for my friends, my family and my favorite blanket.
Today I am thankful for pie, and for sharing it.
Thank you is the best thing to say before you take a bite.
I can help set the table, and that makes me feel big.
I am thankful for hugs, hot cocoa and the people who give them.
Grandma’s kitchen smells like thank you.
My turn to say it: I am thankful for you.
Saidesh
For a quiet craft while dinner finishes, the pumpkin crafts for kids make good place card holders.
Funny Thanksgiving quotations
Every table has someone who needs a laugh before they can say anything sincere. I would save these for the end of the meal, when the plates are empty and Eeshan has finally stopped asking when dessert is. They are all written to be gentle, with no jokes aimed at any one relative. Read one as a toast, or send one in the family group text on the morning of the day.
“
I am thankful for stretchy pants. Without them, none of this would be possible.
The turkey gets the credit, but the leftover sandwich is the real star.
Nothing says thankful like three desserts and a serious talk about which one wins.
I am grateful to whoever invented the second helping, and to everyone who did not count.
Thankful for naps, the unofficial second course of every holiday.
If the gravy is warm and nobody is arguing, count it as a win.
Be thankful for the cook. Be extra thankful for the cook who says there is no need to help.
I am thankful for whoever volunteers to wash the dishes. I will be nearby, hiding.
Saidesh
Bible quotations on Thanksgiving
Many families read a verse before the meal, and Bible quotations on Thanksgiving are searched far more than most people expect. I did not copy verse text onto this page, because I could not check the exact wording from here and I would rather you read each one from a Bible you trust. The table gives the reference and what the verse says in plain words, so you can find it in the King James Version or whichever translation your family uses. Vihaan would probably pick the shortest one, and honestly so would I.
These thanksgiving bible quotations are also easy to print on a card with the reference underneath. Bible quotations about thanksgiving usually come from the Psalms and the letters of Paul, and the eight below are a good mix of both.
| Verse | What it says, in plain words | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Psalm 100:4 | Come into God’s presence with thanks and praise. | Starting the meal |
| Psalm 107:1 | Give thanks, because God is good and his mercy lasts forever. | A short blessing |
| Psalm 118:1 | Give thanks, because God is good and his mercy lasts forever. | A short blessing |
| Psalm 95:2 | Come before God with thanks and joyful songs. | Singing a hymn together |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:18 | Give thanks in every situation, not only the easy ones. | A hard year |
| Colossians 3:15 | Let Christ’s peace rule your hearts, and be thankful. | A calm table |
| Colossians 3:17 | Whatever you do, do it with thanks to God. | Thanking the cooks |
| Philippians 4:6 | Do not be anxious. Bring your requests to God with prayer and thanks. | A worried week |
How to use these quotes at the table
The easiest way is a stack of small cards, one line per card, face down at each plate. Vihaan would probably flip his over before anyone sat down, and I would let him, since the point is that everyone reads something. If a guest does not want to read aloud, they can pass, and nobody should be pushed. A grown up can read the card for a young child who is shy.
You can also print these as a single sheet, say one line while the food is passed, or text a favorite to a relative who could not come. I would pick one from each group and keep it to five or six cards, because a stack of thirty gets skipped. Eeshan would probably vote for adding a funny one to every plate, and he might be right. Once the cards are done, the fall would you rather questions for kids keep little ones busy until the pie comes out.
Safe practice for toddlers at the holiday table
Paper cards are fine for older kids, but a toddler will try to chew one. Put them above the plate, not on it. Take them away when a little one sits down. Place card holders made from small items like acorns or buttons belong far from the high chair.
Frequently asked questions about Thanksgiving quotations
What are some short Thanksgiving quotations?
Try “The best seat at the table is the one next to someone you are glad to see” or “Say it plainly this year: thank you for being here.” Both fit on a place card and take one breath to read.
What is a good Bible verse for Thanksgiving?
Psalm 107:1, Psalm 100:4 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 are popular choices. Psalm 107:1 is short, which makes it a handy blessing before the meal. Read it from a Bible you trust. That way the wording is exact, and you can use the translation your family already knows.
What is a good Thanksgiving quotation for kids?
A short, simple line works best, such as “Thank you is the best thing to say before you take a bite.” Kids can read it in one breath or repeat it after you.
How do I use Thanksgiving quotations at the table?
Print one line per card and set a card at each plate, face down. Let people read theirs out loud before the meal, and allow anyone to pass. Five or six cards is plenty.
Can I print these Thanksgiving quotations?
Yes. The lines on this page are original to CribKind, so you can print and share them with a link back to this page. Please do not claim you wrote them.
Are quotations and quotes the same thing?
In everyday use, yes. Quotation is a slightly more formal word, and people searching for thanksgiving quotations usually want the same short lines as people searching for quotes.
On the day, I plan to hand Eeshan the stack of cards and let him decide who gets which line. Then I will stay out of it, which is harder than it sounds. The funny ones will go last, because laughing just before the pie is the whole point.
