Pass the Gratitude: 45+ Thanksgiving Quotes and Ideas to Share at the Table

When Talking Thanksgiving Quotes, What Is the “Pass the Gratitude” Table Idea?

Between the mashed potatoes, the laughter, and-in our house-the argument over if that darn green bean casserole should really make an appearance (my vote is no)!
Thanksgiving is really about one thing: connection.

This year, add a simple, memorable twist to your gathering — something everyone can enjoy, from your best friend to your great aunt.
Before dinner, invite everyone to “open” a message of gratitude — a quote, a smile, or a spark of inspiration — and share it aloud.

I came up with this idea because I love surprises and kids love fortune cookies.
It is basically a Thanksgiving fortune cookie, with heart.

Below are four collections of Thanksgiving quotes and jokes you can print, fold, and place at each setting — or toss in a decorative bowl to pick at random.

🧡 Gratitude: For People, Friends & Family

The people around the table are what make Thanksgiving special.
These Thanksgiving quotes remind us that gratitude is best shared — one thank-you at a time.

1. “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Anonymous
2. “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust
3. “Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.” — Edna Buchanan
4. “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — Michael J. Fox
5. “The more you practice gratitude, the more you see how much there is to be grateful for.” — Oprah Winfrey
6. “Family and friendships are two of the greatest facilitators of happiness.” — John C. Maxwell
7. “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” — William Arthur Ward
8. “Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses.” — Alphonse Karr
9. “It’s not happiness that brings us gratitude. It’s gratitude that brings us happiness.” — Unknown
10. “In the chaos of life, the family is the calm we are most thankful for.” – Anonymous
11. “Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” — Lionel Hampton
12. “Here’s to those who make us laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter, and live a little better.” — Anonymous

🌟 Inspirational: For Reflection & Renewal

These are perfect for a moment of quiet before dessert — or when you want to lift the room’s energy with something hopeful and timeless.

1. “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” – Robert Brault
2. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” — Thornton Wilder
3. “The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” — Dalai Lama
4. “When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.”― Anthony Robbins
5. “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain
6. “Always be thankful for the little things… even the smallest mountains can hide the most breathtaking views’. – Nyki Mack
7. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” — Eckhart Tolle
8. “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” — William James
9. “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” — Charles R. Swindoll
10. “Give thanks for a little, and you will find a lot.” — Hausa Proverb
11. “Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” — A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh)
12. “Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” — Karl Barth

🥧 Funny: Because Gratitude Pairs Well with Laughter

Because let’s face it — gratitude is best served with a side of humor.
These light-hearted quotes nod to the chaos, quirks, and comforts of modern Thanksgiving.

1. “I came. I saw. I overate.” — Anonymous
2. “I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage.” — Erma Bombeck
3. “Families are like fudge—mostly sweet, with a few nuts.” — Les Dawson
4. “Thanksgiving: when my favorite exercise is lifting a fork.” — Unknown
5. “My heart says salad, but my stomach says stuffing.” — Anonymous
6. “Let’s give thanks for elastic waistbands.” — Unknown
7. “Leftovers are for quitters.” — Anonymous
8. “The average time for eating a Thanksgiving dinner is 12 minutes, which, incidentally, coincides with halftime.” — Erma Bombeck
9. “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.” — Jim Davis
10. Thanksgiving – man. Not a good day to be my pants.”– Kevin James
11. “Remember, calories don’t count on holidays. That’s science.” — Unknown
12. “Thanksgiving: when the people who are the most thankful are the ones who didn’t have to cook.” — Melanie White

🦉 For the Kids (and the Kids at Heart): Thanksgiving Jokes to Gobble Up

Let’s be honest — half the fun of Thanksgiving comes from the giggles at the kids’ table.
These light-hearted jokes are perfect for slipping into your quote envelopes, reading between bites, or turning into a mini after-dinner “comedy hour.”

1. What kind of weather does a turkey like best?
   → Fowl weather!
2. How did the salt and pepper welcome their holiday guests?
   → “Seasons Greetings!”
3. What kind of music did the Pilgrims like?
   → Plymouth Rock!
4. What do you call a running turkey?
   → Fast food!
5. What happens when cranberries feel left out and become sad?
   → They become blueberries!
6. What’s a turkey’s favorite dessert?
   → Peach gobbler!
7. Why was the Thanksgiving soup so expensive?
   → It had 24 carrots!
8. Why did the turkey join the band?
   → Because it already had the drumsticks!
9. What did one plate say to the other plate?
   → “Dinner’s on me.”
10. What’s the best dance to do on Thanksgiving?
    → The turkey trot!
11. How many bakers does it take to make a pie
    → 3.14.
12. Did you hear about the turkey prom?
    → It was called the “Butterball”!

🧺 Wrap It Up: How to Play at Your Table

Here’s how to make this your next Thanksgiving tradition:

1. Print or write out these quotes and jokes.
2. You can put the different categories on different colored paper!
3. Fold them into small envelopes, wrap in twine, or slip under plates.
4. Have each person pick one, read it aloud, and share a related memory or laugh.

By the end of the meal, you’ll have shared more than food — you’ll have shared gratitude, humor, and connection.

“What if today we were just grateful for everything?”
— Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving