110 Happy 40th Birthday Sayings & Messages
Last updated: November 14, 2022
These "Happy 40th Birthday" sayings, messages, and quotes are just right for adding to a card or speech. Wish your newly middle-aged family and friends a very happy 40th birthday on this milestone occasion.
Forty is a funny in-between sort of age. Not really old, not really young. As one person put it: "I'm not old, I'm just chronologically gifted". It's a time to celebrate and party - just maybe at a slower pace!
Whether you want to tease and poke fun at how old they are or send heartfelt congratulations on their birthday, we've got a saying that's right for you.
You can use the links to jump to a particular section or scroll down the page to see the entire collection of 40th birthday sayings.
Sayings | Quotes | Funny | Short | Sincere | For Her | For Him | For Your Partner | Inspirational
Happy 40th Birthday Sayings & Messages
Turning 40 is a big moment in many people's lives. It's a time to reflect on the past and take stock of your life. Sending your loved one a 40th birthday card or message will make them feel loved on their big day. Here are some sweet and classic 40th birthday sayings to get you started.
Congratulations on your 40th birthday. Wishing you a truly fabulous day.
Many happy returns on your 40th birthday.
Warmest wishes for a very happy 40th birthday.
Happy birthday. 40 never looked so good!
Congratulations on the 24th anniversary of your 16th birthday! Here's to many more.
Here's to maturing like a fine wine. Happy 40th birthday!
Happy birthday! And remember you're not 40, you're 18 with 22 years of experience.
Wishing you a very happy birthday! Life begins at forty.
Lordy, lordy, look who's 40! Wishing you a special day and a very Happy Birthday.
40 is the perfect age. You're old enough to recognize your mistakes but young enough to make some more. Happy birthday!
Hope you have a great birthday. You're not 40. You're 39 plus shipping and handling.
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday. And remember, in Scrabble, forty is only 11.
Life's milestones are not supposed to be counted, they're supposed to be celebrated. Happy 40th birthday.
Happy 40th birthday! I'm so pleased to hear you're over the hill instead of under it.
Life is a book, and your forties are the chapters when it all starts making sense. Wishing you an amazing 40th birthday!
40 is when you finally get your head together, but your body has other ideas. Happy birthday!
You're 40 years old? You're 4 perfect 10s! Happy birthday.
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday. Enjoy your forties - they're just like your twenties, only doubly as good!
Happy birthday. It took you 40 years to look this good!
Middle age is when you start turning off lights for economical rather than romantic reasons. Happy 40th birthday!
Happy 40th Birthday Quotes
Famous people throughout the years have had many observations and much wisdom to share about aging and becoming forty. We've selected these 40th birthday quotes that would work really well written in a birthday card.
"Thirty-five is a very attractive age. London society is full of women of the very highest birth who have, of their own free choice, remained thirty-five for years."
- Oscar Wilde
"The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary."
- Arthur Schopenhauer
"One of the many things nobody ever tells you about middle age is that it's such a nice change from being young."
- Dorothy Canfield Fisher
"At 20 years of age the will reigns; at 30 the wit; at 40 the judgment."
- Benjamin Franklin
"We don't understand life any better at forty than at twenty, but we know it and admit it."
- Jules Renard
"Middle school is for being like everyone else; middle age is for being like yourself."
- Victoria Moran
"Middle age is when your age begins to show around your middle."
- Bob Hope
"Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you."
- Ogden Nash
"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."
- Larry Lorenzoni
"When I passed forty I dropped pretense, 'cause men like women who got some sense."
- Maya Angelou
"You are only young once, but you can be immature for a lifetime."
- John Grier
"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."
- Chili Davis
Funny 40th Birthday Wishes
If your friend is turning 40, they definitely did silly things before the internet. So be sure to remind them of your funny memories together! Now they are twice as fun as a 20-year-old, just with more aches and pains. You're bound to find something to tickle their funny bone in our collection of funny 40th birthday wishes.
The best 10 years of a woman's life are the ten years between 39 and 40.
Happy 40th birthday! If we get to grow old, let's grow ungracefully together!
You don't look a day over 39. Well, maybe one. Happy birthday!
I'll bet you were hoping to go under the radar today. Happy FORTIETH birthday!
You're not old. Remember, you're as sexy as two 20-year-olds. It's just math. Happy 40th!
39 was SO last year. Have an amazing 40th birthday!
If you were a mixtape, it would be called "Best of 198_ . 40 Years of Being Awesome". Happy Birthday!
You know I hate to use the f-Word - but you're FORTY!!
Welcome to the 40s club. It's party time! At least if you forget your ID, it doesn't matter anymore. Happy birthday.
You're not old - you're vintage darling! I hope you have a wonderful celebration of your 40 years.
Here's some birthday wisdom... 'Forget about your past, you can't change it. We'd like to add, 'Forget about your present, we didn't get you one'. Happy 40th birthday anyway!
Don't let turning 40 get you down... it's too difficult to get back up again! Happy birthday!
Did you know... "happy hour" in middle age is called a nap! Happy 40th!
If gray hair is a sign of wisdom, then you're Einstein! Happy 40th birthday.
Short 40th Birthday Wishes
Like to keep your 40th birthday wishes short and sweet? These birthday messages are straight to the point, giving you more time to party! Our selection of short 40th birthday wishes would work really well in a birthday card or as an SMS birthday message.
Happy 35th birthday to my favorite 40-year-old!
Happy 39th birthday (again)!
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday and hope you enjoy the next chapter of life!
Happy 40th birthday, may your well-earned wisdom guide you through this next chapter of your life!
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday to someone who is young at heart!
Happy birthday. Wow - you're 4 decades old!
I hope your 40th birthday is as special as you are.
Congrats on turning the big 4-0.
Forty is the new thirty. Happy birthday!
Wishing you a very happy 40th birthday and here's to many more!
Happy 40th birthday to one fabulous lady!
Sincere 40th Birthday Messages
Want to wish family or a friend a very special day with sincere 40th birthday wishes? These wishes tick all the genuine and heartfelt boxes and are perfect to add to a birthday card.
I hope your 40th birthday is as special as you are.
I am grateful to have you in my life. I hope your 40th birthday is as wonderful as you.
I am so thankful to have a special friend like you. You bring joy to my life, and I cherish our friendship more than you know. I hope your 40th birthday is amazing, like you.
You are my everything. I hope that your 40th birthday is everything you hope it will be.
Happy 40th birthday! You are a very special person - I feel blessed to be part of your life. I hope that the year ahead of you is full of love, happiness, and laughter.
Happy 40th! I am so proud of you and all that you have achieved so far. I wish you nothing but the best, this next year and always.
Life begins at 40. Today is the time to hit the reset button! Do everything you've always wanted to do - I believe in you. Happy 40th.
I hope that you will always have love, laughter, happiness, and health in your life. Happy 40th!
You're so selfless. On your special birthday, it's time to treat yourself, you deserve it. Happy birthday!
Congratulations on your 40th birthday. May this new year and decade bring new opportunities to live life to the fullest.
Happy 40th Birthday Wishes For Her
Do you want to wish your best friend, mum, daughter or cousin a happy fortieth birthday? We've carefully written these sweet and sentimental birthday wishes for all your female friends and family.
On your 40th birthday, I want you to know that I'm proud of the wonderful woman I have watched you become.
I am so blessed to have your friendship in my life. You brighten my days. Wishing you lots of happiness on your special 40th birthday!
I'm sure you'll breeze through your forties with a smile, and find turning forty is a piece of cake!
I feel so lucky to be your friend. I hope your 40th birthday celebrations are everything you've ever dreamed of and much more.
You're not 40. You are 39.99, plus shipping and handling! Happy Birthday.
Your 40th is the perfect time to remind you just how cherished and loved you are. I hope you have a wonderful day.
You mean the world to me. I hope your 40th birthday is everything you've ever dreamt of and much more.
It's hard to find the words that can truly express how much you mean to me. You are the brightest light in my life. I hope your 40th birthday is as special as you are to me.
Happy 40th birthday to one of the most special people in my life. I feel so lucky to be your friend.
May your special day be filled with cake, wine, and chocolate! Happy 40th birthday.
Happy 40th Birthday Messages For Him
Are you looking for 40th birthday wishes for a guy? Sometimes you may like to wish them a happy birthday in a more casual, less sentimental way. We've got all bases covered, with these birthday messages that would work really well in a birthday card for your male friends and family.
Congrats on turning the big 4-0. You've accomplished so much in your life. Remember, you're just getting started.
Happy fortieth! You may be officially over the hill, but at least you can rock the silver fox look.
Best wishes on your 40th birthday - kick your shoes off, crack a beer and relax!
Don't worry about turning 40. We're celebrating the 10th anniversary of your 4th birthday!
Happy 40th birthday! You've packed so much fun and adventure into your life, I can't wait to see what you do with your next 40 years.
You have matured like fine Shiraz. Have a happy 40th birthday - and save a glass for me!
I'm here to remind you that you are officially OLD!! Happy 40th birthday mate.
Happy birthday! You may feel old, but at least you'll always be younger than me.
Happy 40th buddy! I'm so proud to have you as a treasured friend... even if you are super old.
Happiest 40th birthday to you! I'd make fun of you for being old, but I'm scared you'll hit me with your cane!
40th Birthday Sayings For Partner
These 40th birthday wishes are perfect for your partner. If you're looking for birthday wishes for your wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend, you're sure to find the perfect wish here. Be sure to make your significant other feel extra special and loved on their milestone birthday.
Happy 40th birthday my love! You bring so much joy to my life, each and every day. I'm grateful for every moment we share together. Here's to another 40 years!
Wishing you a 40th birthday as wonderful as YOU! You are so kind and loving. I am so proud to call you my {husband/wife etc}.
On this special day, I want to look back over all our precious memories together and celebrate YOU! I love you and am so proud of the person you have grown to be. Happy 40th birthday!
To my {husband/wife}, you are my guiding light. I wish you health and happiness on your 40th birthday!
No matter how old you get, you will always be my Sweetheart. Happy 40th birthday!
Happiest of 40th birthdays to my amazing partner, who never fails to bring joy and laughter into my life. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I appreciate you more than you can possibly imagine.
As Stevie Wonder sings, "You are the sunshine of my life". You brighten each and every day, filling my heart with warmth and happiness. Happy 40th birthday!
Happy 40th birthday, my love! I am so blessed that you came into my life. You brighten each and every day that we are together.
Sweetheart, you make me happier than I ever thought was possible. I wish you all the love and happiness in the world on your 40th birthday!
I love you with all of my heart. I'm delighted that you came into my life. Happy 40th birthday!
Happy 40th birthday! We have had amazing memories over the years, and I know the future holds even sweeter ones. I hope your birthday cake is half as sweet as you are. Enjoy your day.
Inspirational 40th Birthday Quotes & Wishes
40 is often seen as a huge milestone that marks the middle of life. You may like to use a loved one's birthday to inspire them. We've carefully selected these inspirational 40th birthday wishes and quotes for friends and family.
Your 40th birthday is the beginning of a happy, healthy, and prosperous journey for you. Wishing you all the very best on your special day and for the years ahead!
"Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you've got to start young"
- Fred Astaire
No matter what direction you take in life, you will always succeed. I hope that this year is filled with everything you could possibly want, and so much more. Happy 40th birthday!
"Life begins at forty"
- Walter B. Pitkin
Happy 40th birthday to you. Now that you are in your forties, everything will begin to make sense. You've been blessed with another year in this world, to do the things you love, with the people you love.
"Age is a matter of feeling, not of years"
- George William Curtis
"Life really does begin at forty. Up until then, you are just doing research"
- Carl Jung
Happy 40th birthday! Look to the future, keep moving forward, stay in the present and savor each and every moment of life.
"At middle age the soul should be opening up like a rose, not closing up like a cabbage"
- John Andrew Holmes
On your 40th birthday, I wish you every success in life and love. I hope that all your dreams and ambitions are realized, and pray that you are blessed in every way.
"You've heard of the three ages of man - youth, age, and you are looking wonderful"
- Francis Spellman
"Forty is the old age of youth; fifty is the youth of old age"
- Victor Hugo
40th Birthday "Year Born" Poster
If you're looking for a really unique and memorable way to wish someone a happy 40th birthday, then check out our personalized 40th birthday posters . Easy to edit and print out at home, your gift will be the talk of the party!
Click here to personalize and print your poster
We've researched all the interesting and funny facts from the year they were born, and our poster maker formats it all beautifully for you. You can personalize the poster with their name, choose your color palette, and add anything else you want about them.
Click here to personalize and print your poster
More 40th birthday ideas...
I hope you enjoyed our 40th Birthday sayings and messages! Looking for more ways to wish someone a happy 40th birthday? Check out our:
Happy Birthday Quotes, Wishes, Videos, and Printables
And do check out our 40th Birthday Ideas page for fabulous party ideas for him or her, and thoughtful gift ideas that they're sure to love!
