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Quotes for a eulogy: 50+ lines for opening, closing, and body
Quotes for a eulogy: 2026 guide with 50+ short quotes for openings, closings, and the body of a eulogy, organized by tone and by the person being remembered. tone and by the person being remembered.
A eulogy is a 10 to 20 minute speech about a person who has died. Most eulogies have three parts: an opening that introduces the speaker and the deceased, a middle that tells the story of the life, and a closing that says goodbye. Quotes can anchor each of those parts, or they can stand alone as the through-line of the speech.
The challenge is finding quotes that fit the deceased, the speaker’s voice, and the audience. Below are quotes for eulogies organized by where they appear in the speech.
Quotes for the opening of a eulogy
The opening should introduce the speaker, name the deceased, and set the tone for the speech. A short quote at the top of the eulogy can do all three at once.
- “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” 鈥?Helen Keller
- “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched; they must be felt with the heart.” 鈥?Helen Keller
- “A life well lived is a precious gift, of hope, and strength, and grace.” 鈥?Unknown
- “Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day.” 鈥?Unknown
- “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” 鈥?A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
- “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” 鈥?Thomas Campbell
- “Death is nothing at all. I have only slipped away into the next room.” 鈥?Henry Scott Holland
Quotes about a life well lived
These quotes work in the middle of the eulogy when the speaker is talking about the deceased’s character, work, or relationships.
- “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” 鈥?Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.” 鈥?Seneca
- “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” 鈥?Steve Jobs
- “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” 鈥?William James
- “Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take us breath away.” 鈥?Maya Angelou (often misattributed; the line is widely used at memorials)
- “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” 鈥?Nelson Mandela
Quotes about love, family, and friendship
These work in the middle of the eulogy when the speaker is talking about the deceased’s relationships.
- “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” 鈥?Michael J. Fox
- “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” 鈥?Elbert Hubbard
- “Where there is love, there is life.” 鈥?Mahatma Gandhi
- “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” 鈥?Martin Luther King Jr.
- “The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.” 鈥?Unknown
- “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, and penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” 鈥?Maya Angelou
Quotes for the closing of a eulogy
The closing should bring the speech to a clear, brief ending. A quote can carry the weight of the goodbye.
- “What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” 鈥?Helen Keller
- “Perhaps they are not stars in the sky, but openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through.” 鈥?Eskimo proverb
- “Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” 鈥?Emily Dickinson
- “The song is ended, but the melody lingers on.” 鈥?James Whitcomb Riley
- “He is not dead, he is just away.” 鈥?James Whitcomb Riley
- “Gone from our sight, but never from our hearts.”
- “Until we meet again.”
Religious quotes for a eulogy
For a Christian eulogy: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25). “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23). “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” (Psalm 116:15).
For a Jewish eulogy: “May their memory be a blessing.” “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21). “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3).
For a Muslim eulogy: “To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.” “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.”
Secular and humanist quotes
For a non-religious eulogy, these lines are widely used: “Death is nothing at all” (Henry Scott Holland), “The life of the dead is placed in the hearts of the living” (Cicero), “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it” (Marcus Aurelius), “Do not go gentle into that good night” (Dylan Thomas), “Remember me when I am gone away” (Christina Rossetti).
Tips for using quotes in a eulogy
A quote should earn its place. If you use a quote, attach it to a specific memory or detail from the deceased’s life. The quote frames the detail; the detail gives the quote meaning.
Use one or two quotes in a typical eulogy, not five or ten. Too many borrowed lines make the speech sound assembled rather than felt. Pick the one or two lines that match the deceased and let the rest be your own words.
Practice reading the quote aloud. The pause before the quote and the pause after are what give it weight. Get those pauses right.
Frequently asked questions
Should a eulogy include a quote?Not necessarily, but most eulogies do, usually one or two lines, often at the opening or closing. A quote can set the tone for the speech or give a clean ending. Use one only if it fits the deceased and your voice.
What is the best opening quote for a eulogy?"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard" (Winnie the Pooh) and "What we have once enjoyed we can never lose" (Helen Keller) are the two most-used opening quotes. Both work because they acknowledge the grief without being heavy.
Can I use a quote from a song or movie?Yes, if it fits the deceased and the audience. A line from a favorite song can be a powerful anchor for the speech, especially if you describe the scene where the deceased played the song or quoted the movie. Just confirm the source before quoting it at the service.
How long should a eulogy be?Most eulogies run 10 to 20 minutes, which is 1,500 to 3,000 words. Shorter is fine; longer risks losing the audience. A well-edited 8-minute eulogy is better than a rambling 25-minute one.
What if I cannot finish the eulogy without crying?Pause, take a breath, and continue. Most audiences will not mind the tears. Have a backup person who knows the speech and can step in if needed. Bring a printed copy, a water bottle, and tissues.
References & Further Reading
The following sources informed the guidance on this page:
Questions, answered
Should a eulogy include a quote?
What is the best opening quote for a eulogy?
Can I use a quote from a song or movie?
How long should a eulogy be?
What if I cannot finish the eulogy without crying?
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