Hong Kong American martial artist & actor (1940-1973)
If a man has decided that he is going to bite off your nose no matter what happens to him in the process, the chances are he will succeed in doing it. He may be severely beaten up, too, but that will not stop him from carrying out his objective. That is the real fighter.
BRUCE LEE
The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee
Everybody has to think for himself. A right way for a big man may not be a right way for a small man. A right way for someone who is slow may not be a right way for someone who is quick. Each person must understand his weaknesses and his strengths.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
There is a powerful craving in most of us to see ourselves as instruments in the hands of others and thus free ourselves from the responsibility for acts which are prompted by our own questionable inclinations and impulses. Both the strong and the weak grasp at this alibi. The latter hide their malevolence under the virtue of obedience: they acted dishonorably because they had to obey orders. The strong, too, claim absolution by proclaiming themselves the chosen instrument of a higher power -- God, history, fate, nation, or humanity.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
Seek to understand the root. It is futile to argue as to which single leaf, which design of branch, or which attractive flower you like; when you understand the root, you understand all its blossoming.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
The intangible represents the real power of the universe. It is the seed of the tangible.
BRUCE LEE
Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Self-will seems to be the only virtue that takes no account of man-made laws.
BRUCE LEE
Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way
A good martial artist does not become tense, but ready. Not thinking, yet not dreaming. Ready for whatever may come. When the opponent expands, I contract; and when he contracts, I expand. And when there is an opportunity, "I" do not hit, "it" hits all by itself.
BRUCE LEE
Enter the Dragon
There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.
BRUCE LEE
attributed, The Art of Expressing the Human Body
The Western approach to reality is mostly through theory, and theory begins by denying reality -- to talk about reality, to go around reality, to catch anything that attracts our sense-intellect and abstract it away from reality itself. Thus philosophy begins by saying that the outside world is not a basic fact, that its existence can be doubted and that every proposition in which the reality of the outside world is affirmed is not an evident proposition but one that needs to be divided, dissected and analyzed. It is to stand consciously aside and try to square a circle.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
If one loves, one need not have an ideology of love.
BRUCE LEE
The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee
Prosperity is apt to prevent us from examining our conduct; but adversity leads us to think properly of our state, and so is beneficial to us.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
It is useless to try to stir the dirt
Out of the muddy water,
As it will become murkier.
But leave it alone,
And if it should be cleared;
It will become clear by itself.
BRUCE LEE
"Once More I Hold You in My Arms", 1964
A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often serves simply as something to aim at.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.
BRUCE LEE
Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Faith makes it possible to achieve that which man's mind can conceive and believe.
BRUCE LEE
Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Thoughts are things.
BRUCE LEE
Tao of Jeet Kune Do
Conditioning obstructs our view of reality. We do not see IT in its suchness because of our indoctrination, crooked and twisted.
BRUCE LEE
Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living
I do my thing, and you do your thing. I am not in this world to live up to your expectations. And you are not in this world to live up to mine. You are you and I am I, And if by chance we find each other, it's beautiful. If not, it can't be helped.
BRUCE LEE
attributed, Bruce Lee: Artist of Life
Genius: The capacity to see and to express what is simple, simply!
BRUCE LEE
Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way