Contributed by Korina Rossi, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Thanksgiving is the season of steamy stuffed turkey, herb encrusted dressing, and cranberry chutney.

But, in most houses, before hunkering down for the feast comes the ritual of expressing your thankfulness. This can be especially doleful for the tongue-tied, but reciting any of these classic quotes will show off your Thanksgiving spirit.

Here are my top ten quotes about thankfulness:

10. Oprah Winfrey

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Encouraging the good vibrations that stir up gratitude is as easy as creating a relaxing environment: start with a hot bath, soft music, and scented candles for your own personal meditation time.

9. Alan Cohen

“Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts.”

If you need help remembering this one, why not set up a unique light and surround it with symbols of the things for which you are thankful? A lantern like this one is also a great reminder to look for the sparks of brightness in the darkness…or to bring your own illumination to the dark nights of the soul.

8. Seneca

“It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful, but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige a great many that are not so.” Roman philosopher Seneca’s words may have pre-dated Thanksgiving, but they stand the test of time.

7. Alphonse Karr

“Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.” Decorating your house and garden with inspirational words is a great way to set the tone for your holiday guests.

6. William Blake

“The thankful receiver bears a plentiful harvest.” This eloquent quote about sowing seeds from poet William Blake will appeal to the green thumbs in your family.

Bring this quote to life by planting seeds of your own, whether they’re real flower seeds in your garden, or seeds of help, charity or good deeds in your community.

5. Will Rogers

“Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” Before Thanksgiving, you can brush up on witty quips by looking through a book of quotes or listening to an inspiring speaker on an audio book while you drive, cook, clean or putter.

4. Mark Twain

“Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed.” Folksy funnyman Mark Twain never let the chance to insert an ironic word of thanks pass. Make sure to remember to see the funny side of things, especially when it would be easy to loose one’s cool!

3. H.L. Mencken

“In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.” Don’t forget to be thankful for the less serious accidents of life.

2. Izaak Walton

“God has two dwellings: one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.” Thanksgiving dinners can make havoc of our own dwellings: if you find yourself feeling the strain of multi-course dinners and crowds of family members, take a break outside. A few minutes snoozing in a hammock can rejuvenate your spirits.

1. Thomas a Kempis

On Thanksgiving, a traditional expression of gratitude, like this quote from medieval priest Thomas a Kempis, is the safest: “Be thankful for the least gift, so shalt thou be meant to receive greater.”