7 Literary Toasts to Ring in the New Year

7 Literary Toasts to Ring in the New Year

Monday, 30 December, 2019

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.

rule

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.

Want to keep up with our book-related adventures? Sign up for our newsletter!

keep reading

Imagine it: a day devoted to reading one great book. Squishy clothes, comfort food, and page after page of an utterly involving story. You can make it happen with just a little prep work; we'll show you how.
The shortest day, the longest night, the transition to deep midwinter — the winter solstice is a powerful date on the calendar. This moving poem by British author Susan Cooper captures its magic. Welcome, Yule!

sharing is caring!

Can you help us? If you like this article, share it your friends!

our mission

Strong Sense of Place is a website and podcast dedicated to literary travel and books we love. Reading good books increases empathy. Empathy is good for all of us and the amazing world we inhabit.

our patreon

Strong Sense of Place is a listener-supported podcast. If you like the work we do, you can help make it happen by joining our Patreon! That'll unlock bonus content for you, too — including Mel's secret book reviews and Dave's behind-the-scenes notes for the latest Two Truths and a Lie.

get our newsletter

Join our Substack to get our FREE newsletter with podcast updates and behind-the-scenes info — and join in fun chats about books and travel with other lovely readers.

no spoilers. ever.

We'll share enough detail to help you decide if a book is for you, but we'll never ruin plot twists or give away the ending.

super-cool reading fun
reading atlas

This 30-page Reading Atlas takes you around the world with dozens of excellent books and gorgeous travel photos. Get your free copy when you subscribe to our newsletter.

get our newsletter
Sign up for our free Substack!
follow us

Content on this site is ©2024 by Smudge Publishing, unless otherwise noted. Peace be with you, person who reads the small type.