Saying goodbye is always bittersweet. Whether a coworker is retiring, a teen in your life is headed off to college, or your neighbors are moving out of state, the right words in a farewell eCard can help express how you feel about them leaving. It can be hard to know what to say, but we’ve got you covered with 50 of our favorite farewell quotes to elevate your farewell eCard into something meaningful.
We grouped this collection of 50 farewell quotes by mood and occasion so you can easily find the right way to say goodbye. Here are a few ways you can use these quotes:
- In a heartfelt farewell Kudoboard
- To open a goodbye speech or toast
- On social media with a photo collage
- Paired with a personalized gift
- Included with a gift card from the group
Ready to create a meaningful farewell for someone special?
Heartfelt Farewell Quotes
When you’re writing a tearful goodbye card or creating a farewell experience for someone special, these quotes help express genuine emotion and gratitude. They are perfect for a group greeting card filled with touching messages from friends or family, and bring warmth and meaning to any send-off.
- “The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.” — Charles Dickens
2. “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — A.A. Milne (Winnie-the-Pooh)
3. “You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.” — E. B. White
4. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” — William Shakespeare
5. “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
6. “Goodbyes make you think. They make you realize what you had, what you’ve lost, and what you took for granted.” – Ritu Ghatourey
7. “You and I will meet again, when we’re least expecting it…” — Tom Petty
8. “Good friends never say goodbye. They simply say, ‘See you soon.’” — Anonymous
9. “Every parting is a form of death; as every reunion is a type of heaven.” — Tyron Edwards
10. “Goodbye always makes my throat hurt.” — Charlie Brown (Charles M. Schulz)
Inspirational Farewell Quotes
These inspirational farewell quotes focus on growth and new beginnings perfect for everything from graduations to retirements. They work beautifully in a group greeting card or goodbye card when you want to send a message of encouragement and positivity as someone starts a new chapter.
11. “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.” — Dr. Seuss
12. “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca
13. “Life is a journey, not a destination.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
14. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.” — Henry David Thoreau
15. “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill
16. “Change is the only constant in life.” —Heraclitus
17. “When one door of happiness closes, another opens…” — Helen Keller
18. “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” — Theodore Roosevelt
19. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’” — Mary Anne Radmacher
20. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” — Steve Jobs
Funny Farewell Quotes
If you’re making a funny group greeting card or light-hearted farewell eCard, these humorous quotes are great for coworkers or friends. They keep the mood upbeat and are perfect for office goodbye cards or even funny retirement cards where laughter is the goal.
21. “Retirement: the pay isn’t great, but the hours are amazing.”—Unknown
22. “Congratulations on escaping… I mean, moving on!”—Unknown
23. “Don’t worry, we’ve already started spreading rumors about your dramatic exit.”—Unknown
24. “Remember, now we get to blame you for anything that goes wrong.” – Unknown
25. “Farewell! God knows when we shall meet again—hopefully not on Zoom.” —Adapted from Shakespeare
26. “Thanks for all the memories — and for never stealing anyone’s lunch (that we know of).”—unknown
27. “Good luck at your new job! May your coffee be strong, and your coworkers not know how to ‘Reply All.’”— Unknown
28. “Leaving so soon? Who’s going to water the office plants now?” —Unknown
29. “See you later, alligator! After a while, crocodile!” — Bill Haley and the Comets
30. “Drinking at the watercooler’s going to be so lonely now.” — Unknown
Professional Goodbye Quotes
These respectful quotes are ideal for a workplace farewell eCard, company group greeting card, or polished goodbye card for a colleague or manager.
31. “Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
32. “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
33. “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” —Albert Schweitzer
34. “If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” – Paulo Coelho
35. “We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when…” — Vera Lynn
36. “The office won’t be the same without your energy and drive.” —Unknown
37. “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams—and good luck on every step of your new journey.” — Adapted from Henry David Thoreau
38. “You’ve left a legacy of professionalism, kindness, and caffeine dependency.” —Unknown
39. “Good luck in all your future endeavors—it’s been a pleasure working alongside you.” — Unknown
40. “A job well done is the best farewell gift you’ve given us.” —Unknown
Short and Sweet Farewell Quotes
Short quotes are perfect when you need something meaningful but concise for a farewell eCard, goodbye card, or printable group greeting card. They also fit nicely inside quick messages, email sign-offs, or small spaces on retirement cards where you want to convey a lot in just a few words.
41. “Live long and prosper.” —Spock, Star Trek
42. “The future is unwritten.” —Joe Strummer
43. “Gone but not forgotten” — Phillip Margolin
44. “Until we meet again.” — Irish Blessing
45. “To infinity and beyond!” — Buzz Lightyear
46. “Onward and upward.” —C.S. Lewis
47. “The best is yet to come.” — Frank Sinatra
48. “Catch you on the flip side.” — Unknown
49. “Nothing gold can stay” — Robert Frost
50. “Take care and stay in touch.” — Unknown
Why Does Saying Farewell Matter?
Saying goodbye to a colleague ensures both closure and appreciation. Let’s go through a few of the upsides to saying goodbye.
Acknowledging the moment: While saying goodbye can bring up complicated feelings, it is important to acknowledge the moment. Recognizing that your coworker or boss is leaving validates the experience and the shared time together.
Creating closure: Goodbyes are good for the soul and good for emotional well-being. Goodbyes help provide emotional closure, which is great for helping people process change.
Showing appreciation: Heartfelt goodbyes expresses gratitude and respect. Saying goodbye gives both parties a chance to say “thank you for all you’ve done.”
Leaving with intention: Goodbyes foster peace, optimism, and a sense of completion for both parties.
Increases employee appreciation: Oddly enough, having a great goodbye ritual for employees can help with employee appreciation. By showing that your company values employees enough to send a farewell eCard, it shows they truly value the employees who still work there. Just have a great employee recognition plan for your current employees!
Increase Employee Retention and Referrals: Although it’s ideal for hardworking employees to stay, implementing goodbye rituals can encourage other employees to stay by helping them recognize their value. Additionally, it can help other employees refer a friend to the company because while they left, they knew it was still a great place to work.
How Kudoboard Can Help You Say Goodbye
Kudoboard is an online recognition platform that offers a board for any occasion, especially farewells. While Kudoboard functions like a traditional e-card, there are many more customization and interactive options. Kudoboard is perfect for sending a personal farewell eCard or an eCard that says goodbye from a group.
Kudoboard can help you say goodbye by bringing people together in a digital farewell group card. Multiple contributors can add messages, photos, GIFs, and videos to create the perfect farewell for a colleague leaving or retiring.
Read More: What To Write In A Retirement Card For A Friend
Make goodbyes more meaningful by creating a farewell or retirement eCard. While traditional cards have been around for a long time, they can come across as impersonal, which is especially true if you’re only using the message typed inside the card instead of writing your own personal message to the recipient. With Kudoboard, you have more opportunities to send unique and original farewell messages.
Kudoboard is also great as a lasting keepsake. If a colleague is retiring, you can turn the Kudoboard into a book for them to cherish forever as a tangible reminder of relationships and shared memories.
Kudoboard eCards are also great for retirements, going-away parties, job changes, graduation, and more. No matter the type of farewell card you need, Kudoboard has you covered.
Read more: 30 Retirement Gift Card Ideas
Make Your Goodbye Matter
Saying goodbye in the workplace isn’t always easy, but it’s an important step in showing appreciation, providing closure, and sending colleagues off with positivity. A farewell card filled with thoughtful quotes, personal stories, and well-wishes ensures the moment feels special and sincere.
Digital farewell eCards like Kudoboard make the process simple while keeping it meaningful. Whether you’re saying goodbye to a coworker, celebrating a retirement, or marking a new adventure, a farewell Kudoboard turns a simple goodbye into a heartfelt memory. Start your board today and give your teammate a send-off they’ll always remember.
Say goodbye with style.
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