Inside: Top Famous Quotes About Mothers: Honoring Love, Strength, and Wisdom

Mothers shape our lives in ways words can barely capture—but thankfully, some of the world’s most brilliant minds have tried. From poets and presidents to comedians and philosophers, these famous quotes about mothers celebrate the unconditional love, wisdom, humor, and resilience that define motherhood.

Whether you’re writing a card, preparing a toast, or simply reflecting on your own mom, these quotes are a heartfelt tribute to the women who made us who we are.

Photo of mother and child

Motherhood is more than a role—it’s a life force. It’s the early mornings and sleepless nights, the joy-filled chaos, and the quiet moments of grace. It’s advice you didn’t ask for but needed, support you didn’t know you had, and a love that shows up again and again. This collection of quotes is a celebration of all mothers—biological, adoptive, chosen, and everything in between.

Classic & Timeless Quotes About Mothers

1. “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” – Rudyard Kipling

2. “A mother’s love is more beautiful than any fresh flower.” – Debasish Mridha

3. “All that I am, or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

4. “Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.” – George Eliot

5. “A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” – Princess Diana

6. “The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.” – James E. Faust

7. “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” – William Makepeace Thackeray

8. “A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” – Cardinal Mermillod

9. “There is no role in life that is more essential than that of motherhood.” – Elder M. Russell Ballard

10. “Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” – Robert Browning

11. “My mother was my role model before I even knew what that word was.” – Lisa Leslie

12. “The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.” – Honoré de Balzac

13. “No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love.” – Edwin Chapin

14. “Motherhood is the greatest thing and the hardest thing.” – Ricki Lake

15. “Being a mother is discovering strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you never knew existed.” – Sherene Simon

Photo of mother and child

Funny & Relatable Quotes About Moms

16. “It’s not easy being a mother. If it were, fathers would do it.” – Dorothy on The Golden Girls

17. “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” – Mark Twain

18. “When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it’s a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway.” – Erma Bombeck

19. “Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.” – Sam Levenson

20. “Nothing is lost until your mother can’t find it.” – Unknown

21. “I want my children to have all the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them.” – Phyllis Diller

22. “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” – Milton Berle

23. “There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one.” – Jill Churchill

24. “My mom said the only reason men are alive is for lawn care and vehicle maintenance.” – Tim Allen

25. “Behind every great child is a mother who’s pretty sure she’s screwing it up.” – Unknown

26. “I smile because I’m your daughter. I laugh because there’s nothing you can do about it.” – Unknown

27. “My mother’s menu consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it.” – Buddy Hackett

28. “Working mothers are guinea pigs in a scientific experiment to show that sleep is not necessary to human life.” – Unknown

29. “If your kids are giving you a headache, follow the directions on the aspirin bottle—especially the part that says ‘keep away from children.’” – Susan Savannah

30. “Moms: Turning caffeine into unconditional love since forever.” – Unknown

Photo of mother and child

Touching Famous Quotes About Mothers

31. “Being a mother is learning about strengths you didn’t know you had and dealing with fears you never knew existed.” – Linda Wooten

32.”A mother understands what a child does not say.” – Jewish Proverb

33. “A mother’s hug lasts long after she lets go.” – Unknown

34. “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.” – Unknown

35. “A mom is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” – Unknown

36. “The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.” – Elaine Heffner

37. “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power.” – Maya Angelou

38. “There is nothing as sincere as a mother’s kiss.” – Saleem Sharma

39. “Motherhood is the exquisite inconvenience of being another person’s everything.” – Unknown

40. “You are far more precious than jewels.” – Proverbs 31:10

41. “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” – Barbara Kingsolver

42. “Motherhood is the choice you make every day to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own.” – Donna Ball

43. “Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” – Marion C. Garretty

44. “There’s no safer haven than a mother’s arms.” – Kelly Roper

45. “Motherhood is not a hobby, it is a calling.” – Rachel Jankovic

Photo of mother and child

From timeless wisdom to laugh-out-loud truths, these famous quotes about mothers reflect just how important moms are—whether they raised us, loved us, or simply showed up for us when we needed them most. Mothers give us roots and wings: grounding us when life gets chaotic and encouraging us to fly when the moment is right.

So go ahead, send a message, write that card, or just say “thanks, Mom.” Because every day is a good day to celebrate her. And if you’re lucky enough to still have your mom in your life, give her a call. If not, take a moment to remember the warmth of her voice, the wisdom of her words, and the light she brought to your world.

Follow these up with Father’s Day quotes!