7 Literary Toasts to Ring in the New Year

Raise a glass of bubbly — or a lovely cup of tea — to your favorite people at midnight, and ring in the new year with these inspiring words written by celebrated authors. From Ben Franklin to F. Scott Fitzgerald, these gentlemen knew their way around a cocktail and a sweet turn of phrase.

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man.

— Benjamin Franklin

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something. So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.

— Neil Gaiman

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.

— T.S. Eliot

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

— C.S. Lewis

Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.

— Alfred Lord Tennyson

Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I’ve played the friend,
Have lived and loved and labored here,
And made of it a happy year.

— Edgar Guest

Cheers to you! Cheers to 2020!

Top image courtesy of Billy Huynh.