170 Inspirational and Motivational Graduation Phrases and Sayings

Last Updated on June 26, 2026 by Status.net Editorial Team

Inspirational and Motivational Graduation Phrases Part 1
Encouraging Words for the Future Part 2
Motivational Graduation Wishes Part 3
Words of Wisdom for Graduates Part 4
Graduation Messages About Success and Achievement Part 5
Memorable Graduation Sayings Part 6
Graduation Slogans, Mottos, and Catchphrases Part 7
Reflections on the Graduation Journey Part 8
Short Graduation Quotes Part 9
Graduation Captions for Social Media Part 10
Funny Graduation Phrases Part 11
Personalized Graduation Messages Part 12
Words for Overcoming Challenges Part 13
Graduation Sayings on Service and Giving Back Part 14
Graduation Quotes Celebrating Educational Milestones Part 15
Graduation Phrases About Personal Growth Part 16
Inspirational Messages for Graduation Speeches Part 17

Graduation season brings joy and hope to countless students finishing their academic journey. This collection of inspirational graduation phrases can help students, families, and educators mark this milestone with meaningful messages.

Part 1Inspirational and Motivational Graduation Phrases

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
“Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.”
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
“Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors!”
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
“Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate.”
“Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.”
“Dream big and dare to fail.”
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”
“The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match.”

Part 2Encouraging Words for the Future

You might want to use these phrases to inspire graduates facing new beginnings:

“Your education is a foundation, not a finish line.”
“Today’s end is tomorrow’s beginning.”
“The path ahead may be unknown, but your potential is not.”
“Your diploma is just the first page of a new chapter.”
“Challenges ahead will only reveal how strong you’ve become.”
“The world awaits your unique contributions.”
“Transform your dreams into plans, your plans into action.”
“Your education has prepared you; your determination will propel you.”
“Step forward with confidence into your future.”
“New horizons bring new opportunities for growth.”

Words of Encouragement for High School Graduates

High school graduation marks the first major fork in the road for most students. Some are headed to college, some to trade programs, and some straight into the workforce, and each path deserves encouragement suited to it.

“You’ve spent twelve years preparing for this moment. Trust what you’ve learned.”
“Whatever path you choose next, you already have what it takes to walk it.”
“The friendships and lessons from these halls will travel with you long after you leave them.”
“You are more ready for what’s next than you feel right now.”
“This diploma is proof that showing up, even on the hard days, pays off.”
“Adulthood will ask more of you, and you are capable of giving it.”
“You don’t need your whole future figured out today. You just need to take the next step.”
“Carry the curiosity of a student into everything you do next.”

Words of Encouragement for College and Graduate Students

College and graduate school graduates often carry a different kind of weight into commencement, including years of specialized study, research, thesis work, and, in many cases, a career already taking shape. Encouragement for this group can speak directly to that investment.

“Your degree is proof of your discipline. Your character is proof of everything else you built along the way.”
“The late nights in the library will pay dividends for the rest of your career.”
“You’ve earned the letters after your name. Now go earn the reputation to match them.”
“Graduate school taught you how to ask better questions. Keep asking them.”
“Your research, your thesis, your late-night revisions: all of it becomes part of the expertise you carry forward.”
“The specialized knowledge you’ve gained is a gift. Use it to open doors for others, too.”
“You chose the harder path when you went back for this degree. That choice will keep paying you back.”
“Wherever your career takes you next, you’re starting from a position of strength.”

Part 3Motivational Graduation Wishes

“Aim high, stay focused, and never stop learning.”
“Your hard work got you here; your passion will take you further.”
“Learning was the training; living is the adventure.”
“Graduation isn’t the peak – it’s the launchpad.”
“You’ve proven your ability to succeed; now go prove it again.”
“Yesterday’s achievements become tomorrow’s stepping stones.”
“The effort you’ve shown proves you’re ready for what comes next.”
“Let curiosity continue to guide your path forward.”
“Your potential has no limits except those you accept.”
“Every ending creates space for new beginnings.”

Part 4Words of Wisdom for Graduates

Wisdom reads differently than motivation. Motivational lines tend to push toward action. Wisdom tends to settle into a graduate’s memory and resurface years later, often at exactly the moment it’s needed. These lines work well in cards, in speeches delivered by parents or grandparents, or as a closing thought at the end of a longer message.

“Ask questions until you’re sure, then act with confidence.”
“The people who matter most rarely mention how proud they are. Watch for it in their actions.”
“Choose your habits carefully. They will choose your future for you.”
“Some of the most valuable lessons happen outside a classroom.”
“Patience and persistence outlast raw talent almost every time.”
“The title on your diploma matters less than the values you carry off the stage.”
“Keep the friends who tell you the truth, especially when it’s inconvenient.”
“Success looks different at every stage of life. Let your definition of it grow with you.”
“Say thank you to the people who helped you get here. You will want to be thanked the same way one day.”
“The world will teach you plenty. Stay teachable.”

Traditional Proverbs About Learning and Growth

Proverbs have survived generations because they compress hard-won experience into a single memorable line. These work well woven into a speech or printed inside a card alongside a personal note.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
“By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.”
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
“He who asks a question is a fool for a minute. He who does not ask remains a fool forever.”
“The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is now.”
“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

Part 5Graduation Messages About Success and Achievement

“Your diploma represents countless hours of dedication and growth.”
“This achievement isn’t just about knowledge gained, but character built.”
“Success isn’t measured by grades alone, but by obstacles overcome.”
“Your perseverance has created this moment of triumph.”
“Each challenge you conquered prepared you for greater success ahead.”
“Your graduation proves your capacity to achieve your goals.”
“Today celebrates not just what you’ve learned, but who you’ve become.”
“This accomplishment is the result of your determination and spirit.”
“Your success today forecasts greater achievements tomorrow.”
“Every late night study session has led to this well-deserved recognition.”

Some graduates want a message that leans specifically into pride and hard-earned accomplishment, especially after a degree that took longer than expected or came with real obstacles along the way.

“You didn’t just finish. You finished on your own terms.”
“This diploma took you longer to earn than most, and that makes it worth even more.”
“Proud doesn’t begin to cover how we feel watching you walk across that stage.”
“You finally graduated, and every person who watched you get here is celebrating with you today.”
“Every goal you hit along the way built the person who’s holding this diploma now.”

Part 6Memorable Graduation Sayings

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.”
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.”
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”

Part 7Graduation Slogans, Mottos, and Catchphrases

Slogans and mottos serve a different purpose than quotes. A quote gets attributed to its original speaker. A slogan or motto belongs to the graduate, the class, or the school, which makes it a favorite choice for banners, class shirts, yearbook pages, and even the inside of a graduation cap.

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Catchy Slogans for Banners and Class Shirts

“Class of [year]: earned it, owned it, ready for what’s next.”
“We came, we studied, we conquered.”
“So long, and thanks for all the diplomas.”
“Started with a backpack, finishing with a legacy.”
“Once upon a graduation, the story really begins.”
“This is chapter one, and the rest of the book is ours to write.”
“We wrote the papers. Now we write our futures.”
“Tassel was worth the hassle.”

These lines also work well printed on leavers’ shirts or hoodies, where short, punchy phrasing tends to read better than a full quote.

Personal Mottos to Carry Into the Future

A personal motto works differently than a slogan. A slogan belongs to a group, while a motto belongs to one person, and it often becomes a phrase they return to for years after graduation.

“Progress over perfection.”
“Stay curious, stay kind.”
“Do the work, trust the process.”
“Show up, even on the hard days.”
“Learn something every single day.”
“Bet on yourself.”

Part 8Reflections on the Graduation Journey

The graduation journey represents years of growth, challenges, and transformation.

“The road to success is always under construction.”
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
“Every ending is a new beginning.”
“Don’t just fly, soar.”
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.”

Part 9Short Graduation Quotes

These quotes serve as reminders of the graduate’s potential. You might want to personalize them by adding the student’s name.

“Dream big, work hard.”
“Your education is your power.”
“The journey begins today.”
“Create your own opportunities.”
“Be brave enough to fail.”
“Chase dreams, not perfection.”
“Yesterday you dreamed, today you achieve.”
“The world awaits your gifts.”
“Learning never stops.”

Quick Motivational Sayings

“Limitations exist only in your mind.”
“Small steps lead to big changes.”
“Your potential has no ceiling.”
“Courage over comfort leads to growth.”
“Learn from yesterday, live for today.”
“Tomorrow belongs to the bold.”
“Every ending creates new beginnings.”
“Hard work beats talent.”
“Stay hungry for knowledge.”
“Your attitude determines your altitude.”

You can add these quotes to graduation cards, caption graduation photos, or include them in congratulatory messages. Their brevity makes them easy to remember.

Four-Word and One-Line Graduation Quotes

Some spaces, like a cap decoration, a text message, or a photo caption, leave room for only a handful of words. These short lines still carry a complete thought.

“Dreams don’t have deadlines.”
“Earned every bit of it.”
“Future so bright.”
“Started. Struggled. Succeeded.”
“Grateful and graduating.”
“Onward and upward.”
“Watch me now.”
“Done, and proud of it.”

Part 10Graduation Captions for Social Media

Graduation photos tend to circulate widely on social media, and the caption often matters as much as the photo itself. A good caption for graduation day is short enough to read in a glance and specific enough to feel personal rather than generic.

“Tossed the cap, kept the memories.”
“Proof that hard work looks good on you.”
“Officially done and unofficially thrilled about it.”
“This diploma has my name and my tears on it.”
“From late nights studying to this moment right here.”
“Grateful for the journey, excited for what’s next.”
“Cap on, world’s next.”
“Not bad for a kid who almost failed freshman year.”
“Congratulations to me.”
“New chapter, same stubborn dreams.”

Captions for Back-to-School and First-Day Posts

Not every school caption marks an ending. Many of the most-shared school captions celebrate a beginning, whether that’s a first day of kindergarten or the start of a new school year.

“New backpack, new grade, same excitement.”
“First day jitters, biggest smiles.”
“Another year, another chance to learn something amazing.”
“Ready or not, here comes another school year.”
“Pencils sharpened, goals set.”

Part 11Funny Graduation Phrases

Graduation celebrations can use a touch of humor to lighten the mood and acknowledge the amusing side of finishing school. These funny phrases help graduates laugh about student loans, job hunting, and the realities of adult life.

“Congratulations on spending thousands of dollars on a piece of paper that will hang in your parents’ house.”
“Welcome to adulthood, where the beds are unmade, the dishes are dirty, and the bills are unpaid.”
“The best thing about graduation is never having to explain why you’re napping at 3pm on a Tuesday.”
“Congrats on graduating! Your parents can finally stop telling people you’re ‘still finding yourself.'”
“You survived all-nighters, terrible roommates, and cafeteria food. The real world should be easy!”

Witty Sayings for Commencement

“Congratulations on your graduation! Time to turn your student loan payments from theoretical to actual.”
“You spent 4 years and thousands of dollars to put three letters after your name. Hope they were worth it!”
“Congratulations! You’ve officially run out of excuses for being broke.”
“The road to success is always under construction, much like the campus during your entire college career.”
“May your mortgage be as small as your graduation cap.”

Some graduates prefer a sharper, more sarcastic tone, especially for a caption or a card meant for a close friend who appreciates dry humor.

“I’d like to thank caffeine, spite, and a few very patient professors.”
“Diploma acquired. Adulting skills still pending.”
“Four years, one degree, and zero idea what happens now.”
“Graduated with honors, and by honors I mean I showed up most days.”

Part 12Personalized Graduation Messages

Custom Quotes for Friends and Family

When crafting messages for close friends and family members graduating, you might want to include references to shared memories or specific accomplishments.

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Some customizable templates you could use:

Template 1: “From [childhood memory] to [recent achievement], watching you grow has been amazing. Your [personal quality] will take you far!”
Example: “From building backyard forts to earning your engineering degree, watching you grow has been amazing. Your creative problem-solving will take you far!”
Template 2: “Remember when you [past struggle]? Look at you now, [recent accomplishment]! Your [personal strength] always shines through.”
Example: “Remember when you struggled with calculus? Look at you now, graduating with honors! Your persistence always shines through.”

For siblings or cousins, you might reference family traits or childhood competition that motivated them:

“That competitive spirit that annoyed me growing up just helped you graduate with honors!”
“Grandpa would be so proud to see his curious little granddaughter become a research scientist.”
“The determination you showed on your high school basketball team carried you through college.

Messages for College and Graduate School Graduates

College and graduate school messages often carry a slightly different tone than high school messages, since the graduate has usually chosen a specific field and invested years into a defined goal. Referencing that specific path tends to land better than a general message.

“You picked a hard major and finished anyway. That says everything about your character.”
“Watching you turn your college acceptance letter into an actual degree has been one of the best parts of these past four years.”
“Your thesis defense was nerve-wracking to watch from the audience. I can only imagine how it felt from the podium. You handled it beautifully.”
“Congratulations on your graduation. Every internship, every exam, every group project you complained about led exactly here.”

Part 13Words for Overcoming Challenges

Phrases to Inspire Resilience

“Fall seven times, stand up eight.”
“Your struggle today develops your strength for tomorrow.”
“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.”
“The comeback is always stronger than the setback.”
“Storms make trees take deeper roots.”
“Resilience is accepting your new reality.”
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
“The oak fought the wind and was broken, the willow bent and survived.”
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.”
“Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equal advantage.”

You might want to personalize these messages by adding the graduate’s name or referring to specific challenges they’ve overcome.

Quotes on Facing Obstacles

Graduates can find comfort in knowing others have faced similar challenges and succeeded.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.”
“The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. Find a way to climb over, go through, or work around them.”
“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
“Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.”
“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
“When something is difficult, remember that it’s doing something important: making you stronger.”
“The harder you fall, the higher you bounce.”
“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”

These quotes work beautifully in cards, speeches, or gift inscriptions that acknowledge the graduate’s journey through challenges.

Part 14Graduation Sayings on Service and Giving Back

Inspiring Others Through Service

Service transforms both the giver and receiver. When graduates dedicate time to helping others, they often find deeper meaning in their own lives.

“The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.”
“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, not something you do in your spare time.”
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others remains forever.”
“Live your life not by how much you get, but by how much you give.”
“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart.”
“The highest reward for a person’s work is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.”
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
“Do small things with great love.”
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
“Your accomplishments are measured not by what you receive, but by what you give.”
“True service comes from a place of gratitude, not obligation.”
“We make a life by what we give, not by what we get.”
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.”
“The best gift anyone can give is their time.”
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.”
“Service to others is the payment you make for your space here on earth.”
“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.”
“Begin each day by asking, ‘How can I serve?'”
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”

Phrases Encouraging Contribution

Giving back creates ripples that extend far beyond the initial act.

“Your education is a tool. How you use it to build up others defines your legacy.”
“Success isn’t measured by what you accumulate, but by what you contribute.”
“The value of your education will be measured by how you use it to improve the lives of others.”
“Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.”
“Never underestimate your ability to make someone else’s life better.”
“Your knowledge becomes wisdom when shared with others.”
“The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as long as we live.”
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others.”
“Use your education not just to make a living, but to make a difference.”
“Your accomplishments gain meaning when they benefit others.”

Part 15Graduation Quotes Celebrating Educational Milestones

You might want to include these meaningful quotes about academic achievement at graduation ceremonies or in cards:

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
“The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
“Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.”
“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.”
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress.”
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Quotes for Moving-Up and Promotion Ceremonies

Moving-up ceremonies for elementary and middle school students call for gentler, simpler language than a high school or college commencement. The tone should match the age of the student while still marking the milestone as meaningful.

“Every big journey starts with small steps, and you’ve just taken a big one.”
“You worked hard, you grew so much, and now you’re ready for the next grade.”
“Today you move up. Tomorrow you keep growing.”
“So proud of how far you’ve come this year.”
“New grade, new adventures, same amazing you.”

Part 16Graduation Phrases About Personal Growth

Personal growth quotes you can share at graduation time:

“Graduation isn’t the end of a tough journey. It’s the beginning of a beautiful one.”
“The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse.”
“You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world.”
“Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”
“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
“Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors.”
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”

Part 17Inspirational Messages for Graduation Speeches

A graduation speech asks for something different than a card or a caption. It needs to hold an audience’s attention for several minutes, build toward a message, and land on a note that feels earned rather than rehearsed. Many of the quotes throughout this article work well as building blocks inside a longer speech, and a speech also benefits from its own structure.

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How to Structure a Short Graduation Speech

Open with a brief story or observation that the audience can relate to immediately. Save the quotes for the middle of the speech, where they can reinforce a point you’ve already made.
Choose one central message and build the entire speech around it. A speech that tries to cover gratitude, resilience, and the future all in five minutes tends to feel rushed.
Use one or two quotes at most, and introduce them naturally. A line like “As someone once said” tends to work better than reading a quote and its attribution word for word.
Close with something forward-looking. Audiences remember the last thirty seconds of a speech more than any other part.

Sample Lines to Open or Close a Speech

“A few years ago, most of us couldn’t have imagined standing here today. And yet, here we are.”
“We walked in as students. We walk out as the people who will decide what comes next.”
“To everyone who helped us reach this stage: thank you. This moment belongs to you as much as it belongs to us.”
“Let’s give the world something to talk about.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good short graduation quote?

A good short graduation quote gets a complete idea across in a single line, often five to ten words. Lines like “Dream big, work hard” or “The journey begins today” work well because they read quickly on a card, a cap, or a photo caption without needing extra context.

What should I write on a graduation post?

Pair a short caption with one specific detail about the graduate’s journey, like the degree earned or a challenge overcome. A generic quote reads fine on its own, but adding even one personal line, such as the graduate’s next plan or a thank-you to family, makes the post feel less like a template.

What are good words of wisdom for a graduate?

The strongest words of wisdom for a graduate tend to focus on values rather than achievements, since values carry the graduate through every stage that follows. Lines about patience, honesty, gratitude, and staying teachable tend to age better than lines focused only on the excitement of the moment.

What is a good motto for graduation?

A good graduation motto is short, personal, and repeatable, something the graduate could say to themselves on a hard day years from now. Phrases like “Progress over perfection” or “Show up, even on the hard days” work well because they apply to situations far beyond school.

How do I write a short motivational speech for graduation?

Open with a relatable story rather than a quote, build the speech around one central idea, use no more than one or two quotes to support that idea, and close with a forward-looking line. Keeping the speech under five minutes tends to hold an audience’s attention better than a longer address.

What is a good caption for a graduation photo?

Captions that reference a specific detail, like the cap toss, the diploma itself, or the feeling of finishing, tend to perform better than generic congratulations. Short lines such as “Tossed the cap, kept the memories” work well because they are specific enough to feel personal.

What are good words of encouragement for a high school graduate?

High school graduates often benefit from encouragement that acknowledges uncertainty about the future while affirming their readiness for it. Lines that mention trusting their preparation, taking the next step without having everything figured out, and carrying curiosity forward tend to resonate at this stage.

What are good graduation slogans for a class shirt or banner?

Effective class slogans are short, use the class year when possible, and lean on wordplay related to the school experience. Lines like “Tassel was worth the hassle” or “We came, we studied, we conquered” work well because they read clearly at a glance and print cleanly on shirts and banners.

How many quotes should I use in a graduation card or speech?

One well-chosen quote usually carries more weight than several stacked together. For a card, a single quote paired with a personal line tends to feel more sincere. For a speech, one or two quotes placed to reinforce a specific point work better than a string of quotes read one after another.

What is a good quote for a leavers’ shirt?

Leavers’ shirts tend to favor short, catchy lines over full quotes, since the text needs to stay readable at a distance. Slogans like “So long, and thanks for all the diplomas” or a class motto tend to work better here than a lengthy quote with attribution.

What are some proverbs about graduation or learning?

Traditional proverbs about learning and perseverance translate well to graduation because they speak to effort and growth rather than a specific era or trend. Lines such as “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” or “By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn” have been used in graduation speeches and cards for generations.

What is the difference between a graduation quote and a graduation motto?

A graduation quote is typically attributed to someone else, whether a well-known figure or an unnamed source, and expresses a general truth. A motto belongs to the graduate personally, often chosen or written by them, and tends to serve as a guiding phrase they return to well beyond graduation day.

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