100 Quotes on Tombstones That Won't Be Forgotten

We would all like to be remembered for something. Why not immortalize yourself on your tombstone? A clever, thoughtful, funny, or loving epitaph is sure to garner attention.

Some people want their religious beliefs on the headstone, while other epitaphs are downright mean. Whatever you choose to have engraved on the grave marker will live on for years to come.

Continue on and read some unforgettable tombstone inscriptions.

Epitaph Quotes for Tombstones, Headstones, and Grave Markers

The word epitaph comes from a Greek word meaning “upon a tomb.” It’s literally what is written upon a tombstone, grave marker, or headstone.

Sometimes this is called an inscription or engraving, also possibly a sentiment or engraving. These are all different ways of talking about what is written, carved, etched, engraved, or inscribed upon the headstone.

And of course, any of these can also be used for an inscription on a cremation urn for cremated remains.

The epitaph generally includes the decedent’s name and dates, along with a few choice words such as “In loving memory” or… well, that’s what the rest of this article is about.

Here are some ideas for your inspiration!

Short Headstone Sayings

In Loving Memory Of (Add Name)
Celebrating the Life Of (Add Name)
Wife, Mother, Daughter, Friend
Husband, Father, Son, Friend
Always Loved, Never Forgotten
Live With No Regrets
Love Lives On
Honoring (Add Name)
We Will Cherish You Always
Once In A Lifetime
In God’s Care
In The Arms Of The Angels
We Will Always Love You
Remembered By All
She Asked For So Little But Gave So Very Much
Mourn Not My Death, But Celebrate My Life
Love Is A Light That Never Dims
Step Softly, A Dream Lies Buried Here.
Died Happy
In Life Be Loved And In Death Be Lamented
Until We Meet Again

Headstone Inscriptions for Dad

The World Is Diminished Because He Is Gone… But It Is Still A Better Place Because He Was Here
Our LovingFather
Beloved By All Who Knew Him
A Very Special Man
He Led A Life Well-Lived
His Mission On Earth Is Fulfilled
No Man Is Indispensable But Some Are Irreplaceable
Dad, The World’s Loss Was Heaven’s Gain When God Took You Home
A Man Greatly Beloved
A Loving Father, Tender And Kind, What A Beautiful Memory You Left Behind.

Headstone Inscriptions for Mom

A Mother’s Love, Like An Imperishable Sun, Cannot Go Out
Mom, You Were An Inspiration To All
You’re Lucky If You Can Call Your Mom A Friend
A Woman Of Grace And Dignity
Here Lies A “Proverbs 31” Woman
Mother, Greatly Loved and Sadly Missed
What A Wonderful Life!
May God Grant You Eternal Rest, Dear Mother
She Walked In Beauty
No One Spread More Love In One Lifetime

Headstone Inscriptions for Husband and Wife

I Will Sleep In Peace Until You Come To Me
I Will Be In The Wind That Moves By You
Together Again
Together Forever
They Lived And Laughed, Loved, And Left
Just Whisper My Name In Your Heart And I Will Be There
My Love, I Will See You In Heaven
Soulmates
True Soulmates
There Is No Parting In Heaven
Everlasting Love
Together In Life And Death
Always Loving, Always Loved
We Lived Together In Happiness, Now We Rest Together In Peace

Memorialize Your Loved One with a Free Website

Did you know that you can create a website to honor your loved one’s life for free? We’ve curated a list of the 10 best platforms that allow you to share obituaries and photos, announce funeral details, accept funeral donations, and where friends and family can post condolences and memories. Find the perfect memorial website here.

Headstone Inscriptions for Children

You Touched Our Lives For The Briefest Of Moments, Yet You Will Stay With Us Forever
Planted On Earth To Bloom In Heaven
God’s Garden Needs Little Flowers
Remembering A Tiny Angel
Our Littlest Angel Who Went Back To Heaven
Even The Tiniest Child Leaves Behind A Love That Lasts Forever
Children Are A Heritage Of The Lord – Psalm 127:3
So Small, So Sweet, So Soon
Sleep, My Little One, Sleep
Lord, We Give You Our Littlest Angel

Military Headstone Inscriptions for Veterans

Duty, Honor, Country. Well Done. Be At Peace.
Never Forget
No Day Shall Erase You From The Memory Of Time
A Life Of Beauty And Service
We Often Take For Granted The Very Things That Deserve Our Gratitude
Real Heroes Have An American Flag On The Arm Of Their Uniform
At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him
Warriors Are Those Who Choose To Stand Between An Enemy And All That They Hold Sacred
With Much Gratitude For The Brave Men And Women, For Their Heroic Sacrifice For Our Freedom, Lest We Forget
It’s Not That I Can And Others Can’t; It’s That I Did And Others Didn’t
To Live Without Discipline Is To Die Without Honor
A Day Of Duty Done. A Day Of Rest Begun
There Is No Greater Love Than To Lay Down One’s Life For One’s Friends – John 15:13
I Have Fought The Good Fight I Have Finished The Course I Have Kept The Faith – 2 Timothy 4:7
At Rest, A Soldier And Defender Of The Constitution.

Famous Quotes on Tombstones

There Goes The Neighborhood – Rodney Dangerfield
Free At Last, Free At Last, Thank God Almighty I’m Free At Last – Martin Luther King, Jr.
I Will Not Be Back Right After This Message – Merv Griffin
He Never Killed A Man That Did Not Need Killing – Robert Clay Allison (famous 1800s cowboy)
Heavyweight Champion Of The World. A Gentle Man And A Gentleman – Jack Dempsey
I Told You I Was Sick – William H. Hahn Jr.
She Always Said her Feet Were Killing Her, But No One Believed Her – Marguerite Dewey Daniels
I Had A Lover’s Quarrel With The World – Robert Frost
A Tomb Now Suffices Him For Whom The World Was Not Enough – Alexander The Great
I Knew If I Waited Around Long Enough Something Like This Would Happen – George Bernard Shaw

Some “Not So Nice” Epitaphs

Abandoned In Old Age By Wife And Children; May God Be More Understanding And Merciful – Andrew J. Olszak
May Eternal Damnation Be Upon Those In Whaling Port. Who, Without Knowing Me Have Maliciously Vilified Me. May The Curse Of God Be Upon Them And Theirs – Mary Dolencie
My Brother Was Good At Pissing People Off – Cecil O’Dell Eads
My Wife, Eleanor Arthur, Of Queens, NY, Lived Like A Princess For 20 Years. Traveling The World With The Best Of Everything. When I Went Blind, She Tried To Poison Me. Took All My Money, All My Medication, And Left Me In The Dark, Alone, And Sick. It’s A Miracle I Escaped. I Won’t See Her In Heaven Because She Is Surely Going To Hell – Herman Harband

More Beautiful Epitaphs

I Believe That If I Should Die, And You Were To Walk Near My Grave, From The Very Depths Of The Earth, I Would Hear Your Footsteps. (On a personal note, this is my very favorite!)
Should We Lose Each Other In The Shadow Of The Evening Trees, I Will Wait For You. And Should I Fall Behind, Wait For Me
Our Brief Partings On Earth Will Appear One Day As Nothing Beside The Joy Of Eternity Together
This Life Is But A Passing Dream, We Soon Shall Wake In Heaven
The Hours Part Us, But They Bring Us Together Again
Life Is Not Forever. Love Is
I Shall Dwell In The House Of The Lord Forever – Psalm 23:6
Whoever Believes In Him May Have Eternal Life – John 3:15
If I Had My Life To Do Over, I Would Find You Sooner So I Could Love You Longer
We Shall Meet In The Place Where There Is No More Darkness

Now that you have read this list, you should have no trouble creating the perfect epitaph for your loved one’s headstone. You can write your own or simply borrow one from here.

For more information, read 12 Headstone Tips to Help You Get the Inscription Just Right.

More Quotes

50 Best “In Loving Memory” Quotes
The Most Inspiring Life Celebration Quotes
50 Best Funeral Scriptures and Bible Verses
Missing You: 22 Honest Quotes About Grief
101 Condolence Messages
Inspirational Quotes About the Death of a Loved One

100 Quotes on Tombstones That Won't Be Forgotten » Urns (2023)