100+ Moving & Emotional Farewell Quotes for Every Occasion

Saying goodbye is hard. It's not just difficult on an emotional level—it's hard to come up with just the right words to express how you really feel. But you're not alone. Whether you're looking for the perfect quote to relate to in your time of loss, or you're in search of a quote to share with someone you're saying farewell to, we've got you covered. We've compiled more than 100 of the wisest, most heartfelt, and even funniest quotes from famous figures to help you say goodbye to a friend, former partner, family member, teacher, or anyone else.

Meaningful Goodbye Quotes

"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing." —E. B. White
"Goodbye, evergreen. / You know I love you. / But everything heaven sent / Must burn out in the end." —Sufjan Stevens
"Life is a journey, not a destination." —Ralph Waldo Emerson
"I thought I was stronger than a word, but I just discovered that having to say goodbye to you is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” ―Colleen Hoover
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” —Semisonic
“Goodbye always makes my throat hurt.” – Charlie Brown

Section 1 of 8:

Goodbye Quotes for Friends & Loved Ones

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Share a quote that lets them know how much they mean to you. Whether your friend or loved one is moving away, transferring schools, or leaving in another way, a wise and inspirational quote or saying is the perfect way to say goodbye.
- "It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure." —Ernie Harwell
- "Could we see when and where we are to meet again, we would be more tender when we bid our friends goodbye." —Ouida
- “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” —Charles Dickens
- “This is not a goodbye, my darling, this is a thank you.” —Nicholas Sparks
- “The two hardest things to say in life are hello for the first time and goodbye for the last.” —Moira Rogers
- “So long, see you around, but never a final goodbye.” —Fred Flagler
- "Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future.” ―John Steinbeck
- “A farewell is necessary before we can meet again, and meeting again, after moments or a lifetime, is certain for those who are friends.” ―Richard Bach
- "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing." —E. B. White
- “There was something unfinished about not saying farewell, like a door left open in the chill night.” —Julie C. Dao
- “Farewell or goodbye, it really doesn’t matter. It shows one magic. If you find it, you are a magician!” ―Deyth Banger
- “Goodbyes, they often come in waves.” —Jarod Kintz
- “Goodbye always makes my throat hurt.” —Charlie Brown
- "So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good." —Helen Keller
- “It’s not the days in life we remember, rather the moments.” —Walt Disney
- “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” —Vincent van Gogh

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Goodbye Quotes & Messages for Colleagues

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Let your coworker know you'll never forget them. When a colleague moves on to another position or retires, you probably feel happy for them—even while navigating your own complicated grief at not getting to see them as much anymore. These quotes and messages can help you express your feelings when words aren't coming easy. Additionally, certified career counselor and wellness coach Jennifer Landis-Santos, PCC, NBHWC recommends letting them know you'd like to stay in touch, if that's your wish: "Let them know what qualities you appreciate about working with them, what you learned from them, or what you wish for them as they move forward in their careers."^{[1]
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Jennifer Landis-Santos, PCC, NBHWC
Certified Career Counselor & Wellness Coach

Expert Interview}
- “Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.” —Garrison Keillor
- “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- “Farewell to the one who’s the heartbeat of this office. Thank you for always bringing your snacks and sense of humour! Best wishes for your future.”^{[2]
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- “As you embark on a new path we wish you nothing but all the luck and success for the bright future ahead.” —Unknown
- “So, old friends, now it’s time to start growing up, taking charge, seeing things as they are, facing facts, not escaping them, still with dreams, just reshaping them, growing up.” —Stephen Sondheim
- “I wish I could do the last prank on you by tying you to your desk so that you are stuck here with us forever. It’s been a pleasure working with you. Farewell.”
- "Our band of awesome colleagues will fall one short with you gone. You were an integral part of our team; best of luck on all your future endeavors!” —Unknown
- "Life is a journey, not a destination." —Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Farewell to the funniest colleague who made sure every lunch break would be awesome, and every dull meeting would be fun. I’m surely going to miss you a lot here. Take care!”
- “Goodbye, it’s been real. Well, maybe not ‘real’ real, more like sitcom-real with a laugh track. Take care, and may your life be as drama-free as a sitcom finale!”
- “Goodbye, and remember, life is short – smile while you still have teeth! Wishing you all the happiness in the world on your new path.”
- “As you leave, take with you the gratitude of all those you’ve worked with. Your professionalism and positive spirit have made a lasting impression. Farewell, and may your journey be filled with triumphs!”
- “As you say adios, keep in mind that life is like a box of chocolates – sometimes it’s sweet, sometimes it’s nuts, and occasionally, you get the one with coconut (nobody likes that one). Best of luck with your new assortment!”
- “Saying farewell to a colleague as fantastic as you is not easy. Your hard work and camaraderie have left a lasting impact. Wishing you all the best in your next adventure!”
- “Farewell! May your departure be as graceful as a cat knocking over a vase but with far fewer consequences. Here’s to hoping your new path is paved with fewer obstacles than a toddler’s Lego-free playroom.”

Section 3 of 8:

Goodbye Quotes & Messages for Teachers

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Share these quotes to let them know they'll always be your hero. Class is out, and while you're probably planning how to celebrate your freedom, you may also be experiencing a sense of loss for a mentor you won't get to see as much. Let them know what their guidance and support meant to you with these quotes and messages:
- “One repays a teacher badly if one always remains nothing but a pupil.” ―Friedrich Nietzsche
- "To be or not to be…" I'm so grateful you chose "to be" a teacher—because you're truly one of the best!^{[3]
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- You helped me discover how much I truly enjoy learning. Thanks for being such an amazing teacher and role model.
- “A true teacher would never tell you what to do. But he would give you the knowledge with which you could decide what would be best for you to do.” ―Christopher Pike
- “What is a teacher? I'll tell you: it isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.” ―Paulo Coelho
- “I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well." —Alexander the Great
- Your unique and fun approach to teaching made school something I actually looked forward to. Thank you for everything you do!
- “The best teacher is not the one who knows most but the one who is most capable of reducing knowledge to that simple compound of the obvious and wonderful.” ―H.L. Mencken
- Thanks to your patience, learning has been a truly joyful experience. I'm grateful for the nurturing space you create.
- This was the year I truly began to care about learning, and you played the biggest role in changing my attitude. I'll never forget you! Thank you!
- Your classroom was a sanctuary for me. Thank you for your kindness and understanding!

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Goodbye Quotes after a Breakup

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These quotes may help ease the pain of a broken heart. As dating coach Kate Dreyfus explains, saying goodbye to a partner can help bring about necessary closure: "Closure is such an important part to being able to feel complete and ready to start a new chapter."^{[4]
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Kate Dreyfus
Dating Coach

Expert Interview} After a relationship ends, you may experience a grief like no other—after all, even if the person hasn't died, a part of your life has ended. And while sometimes a breakup is for the best, it doesn't make it any easier to let go of the life you once shared. These quotes can help you say farewell when you can't find the words yourself.
- “Every moment was a precious thing, having in it the essence of finality.” ―Daphne du Maurier
- "Goodbye, evergreen. / You know I love you. / But everything heaven sent / Must burn out in the end." —Sufjan Stevens
- “You endure what is unbearable, and you bear it. That is all.” ―Cassandra Clare
- “The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. Maybe they always have been and will be. Maybe we've lived a thousand lives before this one and in each of them we've found each other. And maybe each time, we've been forced apart for the same reasons. That means that this goodbye is both a goodbye for the past ten thousand years and a prelude to what will come.” ―Nicholas Sparks
- "Take back that sad word, 'goodbye.' / Bring back the joy to my life." —Toni Braxton
- “No more words. We know them all, all the words that should not be said. But you have made my world more perfect.” ―Terry Pratchett
- “But my world fell apart, and all they could do, the whole universe, was to silently move on.” ―Khadija Rupa
- "I will remember you, / Will you remember me? / Don’t let your life pass you by. Weep not for the memories." —Sarah McLachlan
- “But all the love in the world won't save a sinking ship. You have to either bail or jump overboard.” ―Sarah Dessen
- “My breaking heart and I agree / that you and I could never be / so with my best, my very best, I set you free.” ―Rachel Yamagata
- "You’ve changed me forever. And I’ll never forget you.” ―Kiera Cass
- "I thought I was stronger than a word, but I just discovered that having to say goodbye to you is by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.” ―Colleen Hoover
- “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” —A.A. Milne
- "'What was it like to lose him?' asked Sorrow. There was a long pause before I responded: 'It was like hearing every goodbye ever said to me—said all at once.'" ―Lang Leav
- "You come and go so easily, your life is as you knew—while mine is split in two. How I envy so the half of me, who lived before love's due, who was yet to know of you." —Lang Leav

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Short Goodbye Quotes

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If you're short on time, these farewell quotes are short and sweet. You don't need to send them a long paragraph—these brief goodbye quotes may contain few words, but they're mighty words.
- "History never really says goodbye. History says, 'See you later.'" —Eduardo Galeano
- “Thank God I found the GOOD in goodbye.” ―Beyonce Knowles
- “At last, the wheel comes full circle.” ―Cassandra Clare
- “You get used to someone—start to like them, even—and they leave. In the end, everyone leaves.” ―Rachel Ward
- "A goodbye isn't painful unless you're never going to say hello again." —Unknown
- "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." —Henry David Thoreau
- “It's the emptiest and yet the fullest of all human messages: 'Good-bye.'” ― Kurt Vonnegut
- "We only part to meet again." —John Gay
- “It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest thing in the world.” – John Green
- “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coelho
- “It’s sad, but sometimes moving on with the rest of your life starts with goodbye.” – Carrie Underwood
- “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss
- “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” —Semisonic
- "Do you know what your problem is? You can't live with the idea that someone might leave.” ―John Green
- "Moving on is simple; what you leave behind is what makes it hard." —Unknown
- "Every goodbye is the birth of a memory." —Dutch proverb
- "Don't ever tell anyone anything. If you do, you start missing everybody." —J. D. Salinger
- “I wonder how you say goodbye to someone forever?” ―Ann M. Martin
- "This is the beginning of anything you want." —Unknown
- "Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again." —William Shakespeare
- “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.” ―Shakespeare

Section 6 of 8:

Funny Goodbye Quotes

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Saying goodbye is hard. Make it easier by making them chuckle. Say farewell in a humorous way with these silly—but still heartfelt—goodbye quotes:
- “Sleep tight, ya morons!” ―J.D. Salinger
- “See you later, alligator.” —Bill Haley and the Comets
- “So long, and thanks for all the fish!” – Douglas Adams
- “I make it easier for people to leave by making them hate me a little.” ―Cecelia Ahern
- “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.” —Oscar Wilde
- "That money talks, I'll not deny, I heard it once: It said, 'Goodbye.'" —Richard Armour
- "I do not say goodbye. I believe that's one of the bullsh*ttiest words ever invented. It's not like you're given the choice to say bad-bye, or awful-bye, or couldn't-care-less-about-you-bye. Every time you leave, it's supposed to be a good one.” ―John Green
- “We are really going to miss trying to avoid you around here.” —Unknown
- "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.' —Dr. Seuss
- "It is always sad when someone leaves home, unless they are simply going around the corner and will return in a few minutes with ice-cream sandwiches." —Lemony Snicket

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Classy Goodbye Quotes

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Say goodbye with style. Saying farewell doesn't need to be an excessively maudlin affair. These quotes are meaningful and sentimental, but classy:
- "I love cafe culture, art and intellect, the long hello and sweet goodbye." —Melody Gardot
- “Goodbyes make you think. They make you realize what you’ve had, what you’ve lost, and what you’ve taken for granted.” – Ritu Ghatourey
- "The last thing I say on most phone calls is not, 'Goodbye,' but, 'Thank you.'" —Marshall Goldsmith
- “Farewell has a sweet sound of reluctance. Good-by is short and final, a word with teeth sharp to bite through the string that ties past to the future.” ―John Steinbeck
- "Saying goodbye doesn't mean anything. It's the time we spent together that matters, not how we left it." —Trey Parker
- “To part is the lot of all mankind. The world is a scene of constant leave-taking, and the hands that grasp in cordial greeting today, are doomed ere long to unite for the the last time, when the quivering lips pronounce the word—'Farewell.'” ―R. M. Ballantyne
- "The story of life is quicker than the wink of an eye, the story of love is hello and goodbye…. Until we meet again.” —Jimi Hendrix
- “May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.” – Irish Blessing
- “Good-byes hurt the most when the other person’s already gone.” ―Angie Thomas
- “Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.” ―Jonathan Harnisch

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Emotional Goodbye Quotes

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Let them know how you really feel with a sentimental farewell. These goodbye quotes don't hold back: they'll let the person you're saying farewell to know just how big of an impact they had in your life, and how much you're going to miss them when they're gone:
- “Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.” ―J.R.R. Tolkien
- "It's so hard saying goodbye... it's hard saying goodbye to all the things that one has held dear for weeks, months, sometimes years." —Saqib Saleem
- "What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? It's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-bye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” ―Jack Kerouac
- “I was trying to feel some kind of good-bye. I mean I’ve left schools and places I didn’t even know I was leaving them. I hate that. I don’t care if it’s a sad good-bye or a bad good-bye, but when I leave a place I like to know I’m leaving it. If you don’t you feel even worse.” ―J. D. Salinger
- “But the wild things cried, 'Oh please don’t go—we’ll eat you up—we love you so!' And Max said, 'No!' The wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws but Max stepped into his private boat and waved goodbye.” ―Maurice Sendak
- “I've never forgotten him. Dare I say I miss him? I do. I miss him. I still see him in my dreams. They are nightmares mostly, but nightmares tinged with love. Such is the strangeness of the human heart. I still cannot understand how he could abandon me so unceremoniously, without any sort of goodbye, without looking back even once. The pain is like an axe that chops my heart.” ―Yann Martel
- “Can miles truly separate you from friends? If you want to be with someone you love, aren’t you already there?” —Richard Bach