Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday celebrated primarily in the United States, Canada, and some other countries. It typically takes place on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada. The holiday has historical roots, but its modern observance is often focused on expressing gratitude and giving thanks.

In the United States, Thanksgiving has its origins in a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims and Native Americans in 1621. The Pilgrims, English Puritans who had settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, invited the Wampanoag people to join them in giving thanks for a successful harvest. Over the years, Thanksgiving evolved into a national holiday marked by gatherings of family and friends, feasting on a traditional meal that typically includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.

Beyond the historical and cultural aspects, Thanksgiving is seen as a time for reflection and gratitude. People often use the occasion to express thanks for the blessings in their lives, spend time with loved ones, and participate in acts of kindness and generosity.

Thanksgiving Quotes

1. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward

2. “Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.”
— Catherine Pulsifer

3. “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.”
— E.P. Powell

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

5. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to reflect on the things that matter most in life.”
— Danielle Duckery

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

7. “Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.”
— Jonathan Safran Foer

8. “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

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

10. “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

11. “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

12. “Thanksgiving is a time of quiet reflection, a time to sit back and be thankful for the blessings we have received.”
— Harvey Mackay

13. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
— Melody Beattie

14. “Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings, one by one, as each relative goes home.”
— Melanie White

15. “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
— Charles Dickens

16. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to share.”
— Unknown

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

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

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

20. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to share.”
— Unknown

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

22. “Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.”
— Amy Leigh Mercree

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

24. “Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, ‘How long has Mom been drinking like this?’ My Mom, after six Bloody Marys, looks at the turkey and goes, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.'”
— David Letterman

25. “On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge our dependence.”
— William Jennings Bryan

26. “Thanksgiving is a time of quiet reflection… a time to count our blessings.”
— John Clayton

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

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

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

30. “Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often.”
— Johnny Carson

31. “Thanksgiving is an attitude that must be rooted in our hearts and expressed in our actions.”
— David Jeremiah

32. “Thanksgiving is a time of food, family, and friends. It’s also a time to give thanks for the blessings of the year, including the turkey.”
— Unknown

33. “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

34. “Thanksgiving is America’s favorite holiday because it’s a time when we put aside our cares, much like the day when we log off Twitter for a few minutes.”
— Lewis Black

35. “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

36. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to share.”
— Unknown

37. “Gratitude is not just a word; it’s a lifestyle we should embrace every day.”
— Christine Sternfels

38. “Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and be thankful for the things you have.”
— Unknown

39. “Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.”
— Lionel Hampton

40. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

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

42. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.”
— Melody Beattie

43. “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.”
— Hansa Proverb

44. “Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self—preoccupation.”
— John Ortberg

45. “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.”
— E.P. Powell

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

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

48. “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

49. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

50. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward

51. “Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, ‘How long has Mom been drinking like this?’ My Mom, after six Bloody Marys, looks at the turkey and goes, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.'”
— David Letterman

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

53. “Thanksgiving is a joyous invitation to shower the world with love and gratitude.”
— Amy Leigh Mercree

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

55. “Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.”
— Jonathan Safran Foer

56. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

57. “Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self—preoccupation.”
— John Ortberg

58. “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

59. “Thanksgiving is a time of quiet reflection, a time to sit back and be thankful for the blessings we have received.”
— Harvey Mackay

60. “Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life. Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.”
— Catherine Pulsifer

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

62. “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

63. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to reflect on the things that matter most in life.”
— Danielle Duckery

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

65. “Thanksgiving is the holiday that encompasses all others. All of them, from Martin Luther King Day to Arbor Day to Christmas to Valentine’s Day, are in one way or another about being thankful.”
— Jonathan Safran Foer

66. “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

67. “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.”
— E.P. Powell

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

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

70. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to share.”
— Unknown

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

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

73. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity…it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
— Melody Beattie

74. “Thanksgiving is a time of quiet reflection, a time to count our blessings.”
— John Clayton

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

76. “Thanksgiving is the day when you turn to another family member and say, ‘How long has Mom been drinking like this?’ My Mom, after six Bloody Marys, looks at the turkey and goes, ‘Here, kitty, kitty.'”
— David Letterman

77. “On Thanksgiving Day, we acknowledge our dependence.”
— William Jennings Bryan

78. “Thanksgiving is a time of food, family, and friends. It’s also a time to give thanks for the blessings of the year, including the turkey.”
— Unknown

79. “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

80. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

81. “Thanksgiving is an attitude that must be rooted in our hearts and expressed in our actions.”
— David Jeremiah

82. “Thanksgiving is a time of food, family, and friends. It’s also a time to give thanks for the blessings of the year, including the turkey.”
— Unknown

83. “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

84. “Thanksgiving is America’s favorite holiday because it’s a time when we put aside our cares, much like the day when we log off Twitter for a few minutes.”
— Lewis Black

85. “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

86. “Thanksgiving is a time to give, a time to love, and a time to share.”
— Unknown

87. “Gratitude is not just a word; it’s a lifestyle we should embrace every day.”
— Christine Sternfels

88. “Thanksgiving is a time to count your blessings and be thankful for the things you have.”
— Unknown

89. “Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.”
— Lionel Hampton

90. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

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

92. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.”
— Melody Beattie

93. “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.”
— Hansa Proverb

94. “Gratitude is the ability to experience life as a gift. It liberates us from the prison of self—preoccupation.”
— John Ortberg

95. “Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men; but be careful that you do not take the day and leave out the gratitude.”
— E.P. Powell

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

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

98. “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

99. “Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”
— Amy Grant

100. “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”
— William Arthur Ward