Email signatures aren’t necessarily the star of the show in your emails, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring either!
One easy way to liven up your email signature is with a carefully chosen quote. It’s a small touch, but it can really help your emails stand out (while also reminding people there’s a real person behind your message).
Ready to spruce up your email signature with a quote? Read on for a list of 45+ clever and professional email signature quotes, along with a few quick tips for using quotes in the right way.
But first…
When (and When Not) to Use Email Signature Quotes
Email signature quotes only work in the right contexts. Knowing when to include a quote in your sign-off (and when to leave it out) is essential for keeping your professional reputation intact.
When Email Signature Quotes Work Well
Email signature quotes tend to work best when they support the tone of your role and the purpose of your communication.
They’re a good fit when:
- You’re using a personal email address or a professional account with room for personality.
- Your role involves leadership, creativity, education, or relationship-building.
- You want to reinforce positive thinking, values, or a long-term vision.
- The message isn’t time-sensitive, legal, or transactional.
In these scenarios, a brief quote can add personality and warmth, helping your emails feel more thoughtful, human, and intentional.
When You Should Skip a Quote
There are also situations where an email signature quote can do more harm than good.
It’s better to avoid quotes when:
- Communicating with unhappy customers or handling complaints
- Discussing complex matters, contracts, billing, or compliance topics
- Sending formal notices or sensitive information
In these scenarios, even well-intentioned quotes can feel tone-deaf or distracting.
A Simple Rule of Thumb
If a quote adds a bit of warmth or perspective, it’s probably appropriate. But if there’s even a chance it could confuse, distract, or be taken the wrong way, it’s best to leave it out.
Want to learn more about email sign-offs and signatures? Read this: How to Sign-Off an Email as a Professional
Leadership & Business Strategy Email Signature Quotes
Now, on to the quotes!
Let’s kick things off with a few leadership-focused email signature quotes that work well for founders, managers, consultants, and anyone involved in shaping business strategy or guiding teams.
- “Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” — Peter Drucker.
- “The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers“. — Ralph Nader.
- “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” — Bill Gates.
- “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. — Winston Churchill.
- “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- “A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.” — Michael LeBoeuf.
- “Do not wait; the time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill.
- “Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” — Henry David Thoreau.
- “There is little success where there is little laughter.” — Andrew Carnegie.
- “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” — Henry Ford.
Top Tip for Using Leadership Quotes in Email Signatures
Keep leadership quotes short and neutral. Avoid anything that could be interpreted as judgmental, preachy, or dismissive, especially when communicating with key stakeholders like clients, partners, or customers.
Positive Thinking & Motivation Email Signature Quotes
Positive thinking quotes work well for educators, team leaders, creatives, and anyone who wants their emails to leave people feeling a bit motivated and uplifted.
Here are some thoughtful, professional options that fit naturally into an email signature:
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” — C.S. Lewis.
- “Action is the foundational key to all success.” — often attributed to Pablo Picasso.
- “Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful” — Joshua J. Marine.
- “Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” — Zig Ziglar.
- “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- “Life becomes interesting when you stop feeding negative thoughts.” — Unknown.
- “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” — Willie Nelson.
- “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” — Woody Allen.
- “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” — Oprah Winfrey.
- “The harder I practice, the luckier I get.” — Gary Player.
Top Tip for Using Motivational Quotes
Choose quotes that feel universally encouraging. Avoid anything that minimizes challenges, sounds dismissive, or implies judgment, especially when emailing your team and customers.
Creativity, Innovation, and Education Email Signature Quotes
Creativity and innovation quotes are a great fit for designers, marketers, founders, educators, and anyone in idea-driven or problem-solving roles.
Here are some clever, professional options that work well in email signatures:
- “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” — often attributed to Albert Einstein.
- “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin.
- “Every child is an artist. The problem is staying one.” — often attributed to Pablo Picasso.
- “The aim of education is the knowledge not of facts but of values.” — William Arthur Ward.
- “Good ideas come from bad ideas, but only if there are enough of them.” — Seth Godin.
- “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” — Steve Jobs.
- “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” — Often attributed to Peter Drucker.
- “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” — Maya Angelou.
- “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” — Steve Jobs.
Top Tip for Creative Quotes in Email Signatures
Because creativity quotes can be interpreted in different ways, choose ones that feel positive and inclusive. Avoid anything that sounds dismissive of structure, rules, or other people’s work, especially when emailing across departments.
Wisdom & Perspective Email Signature Quotes
Wisdom-focused email signature quotes are a great choice when you want to come across as thoughtful, grounded, and experienced, without sounding stiff or overly formal. They work especially well for educators, leaders, consultants, and anyone who values reflection and learning.
Here are some timeless, professional options:
- There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” — George Sand.
- “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing.” — Often attributed to Socrates.
- “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Mahatma Gandhi.
- “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson.
- “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” — Robert F. Kennedy.
- “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats.
- Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” — Allen Saunders (popularized by John Lennon).
- “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain.
Top Tip for Wisdom Quotes
Stick to quotes that feel inclusive and neutral. Avoid anything that could sound too philosophical to the point of distraction, especially when your email message is practical or time-sensitive.
Timeless Email Signature Quotes From Influential Thinkers & Creators
Some quotes never go out of style. The following lines come from influential leaders, thinkers, artists, and innovators whose words still resonate across industries.
Here are a few options suitable for most roles:
- “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” — often attributed to George Bernard Shaw.
- “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” — Oscar Wilde.
- “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” — often attributed to Thomas Edison.
- “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain.
- “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt.
- “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” — often attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
- “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — often attributed to Albert Einstein.
- “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — often attributed to Nelson Mandela.
Top Tip for Using Well-Known Quotes
Well-known quotes work best when the rest of your email signature is simple. Pair them with clean formatting and minimal links so the quote feels intentional.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Quote for Your Email Signature
When chosen thoughtfully, the right email signature quote can reinforce your values and leave a positive, lasting impression on your recipients.
In our experience at BulkSignature, the email signature quotes that work really well tend to share a few things in common:
- They’re short and easy to scan. Longer quotes can lose their effect or even get skipped.
- They match your role and audience. Leadership, creativity, wisdom, or light humor all work, but they have to be used in the right context.
- They support your message, not compete with it. A quote should enhance your email sign-off, not steal attention away from your message.
- They feel intentional. Random or overly personal quotes can feel out of place, especially in more formal professional communication.
- They come across as genuine. Email signature quotes should feel like a natural extension of how you communicate, not something that’s forced.
To learn more about getting the most out of your email signature, check out the following resources:
And if you’d like to see how BulkSignature helps teams stay creative while managing email signatures in one place, book a free demo with us today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Email Signature Quotes
Are email signature quotes appropriate for teachers and educators?
Yes. For teachers, email signature quotes can be a powerful way to reinforce values like curiosity, learning, and encouragement. A good teacher quote should highlight your role as an educator and be inclusive for broad audiences.
Can an email signature quote reference a difficult life or challenges?
Yes, but tread lightly. Quotes that acknowledge a difficult life or adversity can be meaningful when they emphasize themes like resilience, learning, or growth. Avoid quotes that feel heavy, negative, or overly personal, especially in professional or academic communication.
Where should a professional quote be placed in your email signature?
Quotes usually work best at the very bottom of your email signature, after your name, role, contact details, and social media links. This keeps your essential information easy to scan and lets the quote feel more like a subtle finishing touch.