Last updated on August 31, 2023
Bruce Lee, the most influential martial artist ever, was born in 1940 in San Francisco. He lived for just 32 years and passed away in 1973 due to cerebral edema, which is an excess of liquids in the brain.
Despite his short life, he became famous worldwide for his martial arts skills and as a Hollywood superstar. He also created his own martial arts philosophy called Jeet Kune Do (The Way of the Intercepting Fist), which brought together Eastern and Western ideas.
In this article, we have gathered the top 10 Bruce Lee quotes based on reader votes from Goodreads. Additionally, we’ve selected 23 quotes from our favorite collection of notes called Striking Thoughts.
These quotes showcase Bruce Lee’s thoughts on film, fighting, and philosophy. We’ll also delve into his role as a thinker rather than just a fighter and analyze his most important quote, often referred to as the “water” speech.
To make it easy for you to explore, we’ve divided the article into sections you can jump to using the table of contents.
If you find a quote you like, you can share it by highlighting and using the provided options. Or, if you prefer, you can skip to the images section to see visuals related to Bruce Lee.
Before we start, here’s a key idea from Bruce Lee: “To discover your truth, you must independently seek answers rather than rely on others’ opinions or books.”
Bruce emphasized finding your own truth instead of blindly accepting information. As you read these quotes and lessons from Bruce Lee, remember to think deeply about them and only keep what resonates with you.
Now, let’s dive into Bruce Lee’s best quotes. He was a true master of kung fu, zen, and life itself, and we’re here to share his wisdom with you.
What you'll learn:
➤ 10 Most Popular Bruce Lee Quotes
If you’re curious about the Bruce Lee quotes people prefer, I’ve done some searching for you. First, his “Be Water” comparison is possibly the most favored. I’ll explain why in the section about that quote.
As for his other sayings, the top 10 below have gotten between 2,600 and 600 votes on Goodreads. To share any of them, just select and choose your favorite social media platform.
But remember: “A teacher isn’t someone who gives the truth. They guide, pointing to the truth each student must discover. A good teacher is like a catalyst.”
| Quote |
|---|
| “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” 💡 |
| “Be happy, but never satisfied.” 😊 |
| “Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless. Like water… Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” 🌊 |
| “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” 🙏 |
| “Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” 😅 |
| “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.” 💪 |
| “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” 😌 |
| “A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.” 🧠 |
| “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.” 💪 |
| “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” 🤔 |
➤ 23 Favourite Bruce Lee Quotes of All Time
“Striking Thoughts” is a collection of Bruce Lee’s notes, sayings, and ideas, put together by his student and editor John Little. I enjoy taking my time with these quotes, pondering over them. I haven’t yet explored all 825 aphorisms, but I’ve already highlighted and even written about many.
Here are 23 of my preferred ones. Yet, in Bruce’s words: “Remember, I’m not seeking your approval or aiming to influence you. So, don’t rush to decide ‘this is this’ or ‘that is that.’ I’ll be content if you start learning to investigate everything on your own from now on.”
| Quote |
|---|
| “To be humble to superiors is duty; to equals is courtesy; to inferiors is nobleness; and to all, safety!” 🙇♂️ |
| “Who is there that can make muddy water clear? But if allowed to remain still, it will become clear of itself. Who is there that can secure a state of absolute repose? But keep calm and let time go on, and the state of repose will gradually arrest.” 🌊 |
| “To spend time is to pass it in a specified manner. To waste time is to expend it thoughtlessly or carelessly. We all have time to either spend or waste, and it is our decision what to do with it. But once passed, it is gone forever. If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” ⏳ |
| “Oftentimes people come up to me and ask, ‘Bruce, are you really that good?’ I say, ‘Well, if I tell you I’m good, probably you will say I’m boasting; but if I tell you I’m no good, you’ll know I’m lying.’ I have the absolute confidence not to be number two, but then I have enough sense also to realize that there can be no number one.” 🤷♂️ |
| “When I look around, I always learn something, and that is to be always yourself. And to express yourself. To have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it, which seems to me to be the prevalent thing happening in Hong Kong. Like they always copy mannerisms, but they’ll never start from the very root of his being, which is ‘how can I be me?’” 🤔 |
| “You know how I like to think of myself? As a human being.” 🙋♂️ |
| “A goal is not always meant to be reached. It often serves simply as something to aim at.” 🎯 |
| “Most people can talk without listening. Very few can listen without talking.” 👂 |
| “To spend time is to pass it in a specified manner. To waste time is to expend it thoughtlessly or carelessly. We all have time to either spend or waste, and it is our decision what to do with it. But once passed, it is gone forever. If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” ⏳ |
| “There is another bit of Chinese philosophy that has a bearing on problems common to all human kind. We say, ‘The oak tree is mighty, yet it will be destroyed by a mighty wind because it resists the elements; the bamboo bends with the wind, and by bending, survives.’” 🎋 |
| “Life itself is your teacher, and you are in a state of constant learning.” 🌱 |
| “If I say that ‘everyone under the sun is a member of a universal family,’ you may think that I am bluffing and idealistic. But if anyone still believes in racial differences, I think he is too backward and narrow. Perhaps he still does not understand man’s equality and love.” ❤️ |
| “A learned man once went to visit a Zen teacher to inquire about Zen. As the Zen teacher talked, the learned man frequently interrupted to express his own opinion about this or that. Finally, the Zen teacher stopped talking and began to serve tea to the learned man. He poured the cup full, then kept pouring until the cup overflowed. ‘Stop,’ said the learned man. ‘The cup is full, no more can be poured in.’ ‘Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions,’ replied the Zen teacher. ‘If you do not first empty your cup, how can you taste my cup of tea?’” ☕ |
| “The method for health promotion is based on water, as flowing water never grows stale. The idea is not to overdevelop or to overexert, but to normalize the function of the body.” 💧 |
| “It is the life of perfection which seems to be incomplete, and of fullness which seems to be empty.” 😌 |
| “Like everyone else, you want to learn the way to win. But never to accept the way to lose. To accept defeat — to learn to die — is to be liberated from it. Once you accept, you are free to flow and to harmonize. Fluidity is the way to an empty mind. You must free your ambitious mind and learn the art of dying.” 🎨 |
| “The superior man lets himself be guided; he does not go ahead blindly, but learns from the situation what is demanded of him and then follows.” 👨🏫 |
| “We have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate. We cannot derive a sense of absolute certitude from anything which has its root in us. The most poignant sense of insecurity comes from standing alone; we are not alone when we imitate.” 👥 |
| “Nothingness means “no thingness” — there is only process, happening. When we accept and enter this nothingness, the void, then the desert starts to bloom.” 🌵 |
| “An intelligent mind is one which is constantly learning, never concluding — styles and patterns have come to conclusion, therefore they [have] ceased to be intelligent.” 🧠 |
| “A fat belly cannot believe that such a thing as hunger exists.” 🤰 |
| “When I look around, I always learn something, and that is to be always yourself. And to express yourself. To have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it, which seems to me to be the prevalent thing happening in Hong Kong. Like they always copy mannerisms, but they’ll never start from the very root of his being, which is ‘how can I be me?’” 🤔 |
| “I don’t know what is the meaning of death, but I am not afraid to die — and I go on, non-stop, going forward [with life]. Even though I, Bruce Lee, may die some day without fulfilling all of my ambitions, I will have no regrets. I did what I wanted to do and what I’ve done, I’ve done with sincerity and to the best of my ability. You can’t expect much more from life.” 🙌 |
➤ Bruce Lee’s “Be Water My Friend” Quote Explained
One of the most influential pieces of advice from Bruce Lee is his famous “Be Water” analogy. This quote ranks #2 on Goodreads and surpasses even Bruce Lee’s own search volume in Google Trends.
It’s widely circulated through videos and discussions on platforms like YouTube, and Bruce’s daughter, Shannon, confirmed it as his most quoted line.
So, what does it mean?
The connection between martial arts and water goes back centuries. In 1645, famed martial artist Miyamoto Musashi wrote in The Book of Five Rings about water’s adaptability. Bruce Lee and his master, Ip Man, were likely familiar with this idea.
During his training with Ip Man, Lee learned about fluidity, symbolized by water. Ip Man emphasized “more yin, less yang,” and Lee had a breakthrough while reflecting on this concept.
While frustrated on a boat in Hong Kong harbor, Lee realized water’s nature. He punched the water, recognizing its softness and adaptability, yet its power. This realization became the foundation of his philosophy.
Lee’s most famous version of the idea was shared on the Pierre Berton Show in 1971:
“Empty your mind. Be formless. Shapeless. Like water. You put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow, or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
Another version goes:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.”
In Striking Thoughts*, Bruce refines the idea:
“Be like water; water has form and yet it has no form. It is the softest element on earth, yet it penetrates the hardest rock. It has no shape of its own, yet it can take any shape in which it is placed. In a cup, it becomes the shape of the cup…Water may seem to move in contradiction, even uphill, but it chooses any way open to it so that it may reach the sea. It may flow swiftly or it may flow slowly, but its purpose is inexorable, its destiny sure.”
Water is balance. It judges slowly, adapts to its path, and always finds its way home. When we embody water’s qualities, we handle challenges better. We become calmer, adaptable, and persistent without stubbornness.
Being like water means being present and perfectly adaptable, finding balance in every moment. Bruce Lee’s metaphor continues to resonate, offering wisdom even decades after his passing.
➤ Who Was Bruce Lee?
Bruce Lee is famous as a fighter, known for his stunning martial arts performances in TV shows, movies, and public demonstrations. Born in Hong Kong and also a US citizen, he began his career as a child actor, appearing in around 20 movies before he turned 18.
Despite his early fame, Lee struggled with academics and got into street fights in Hong Kong. In response, his parents enrolled him in martial arts training. He learned from the legendary Ip Man and even won a boxing tournament by knocking out the reigning champion.
Instead of favoring one style, Lee drew from various disciplines like wing chun, tai chi, and boxing to create his own fighting style: Jeet Kune Do, or “The Way of the Intercepting Fist.”
Jeet Kune Do is more than just a martial art; it’s a philosophy. This is where the lesser-known side of Bruce Lee emerges. After moving to the US in 1959, he studied drama, psychology, and philosophy at the University of Washington.
When he opened his own martial arts school and showcased his skills at the 1964 Long Beach International Karate Championships, he was seen as both a philosopher and a martial artist.
Steve McQueen, a fellow movie star and Lee’s student, described him as a brilliant philosopher who focused on understanding oneself. Bruce delved into Eastern philosophies like Zen, Taoism, and Buddhism, as well as Western philosophy.
Bruce aimed to free his followers from rigid styles and patterns. He wanted Jeet Kune Do to be a direct expression of emotions with minimal movements and energy, rather than another dogmatic martial arts system.
Bruce believed Jeet Kune Do, like a boat, was meant to carry someone across and then be left behind. This perspective extended to his approach to life. He collected a range of aphorisms covering topics from reality to ego, and he understood that life and martial arts had no single, fixed answer.
He embraced a broad philosophical approach, which defines the true Bruce Lee. This perspective offers valuable lessons, even for those not training in martial arts. Our collection of quotes aims to share these insights with you.
➤ Bruce Lee’s Workout Plan (1965)
➤ Bruce Lee’s “Striking Thoughts” Book Summary
In my view, the most effective method to access additional authentic Bruce Lee quotes is by acquiring a copy of Striking Thoughts*. Here’s a brief overview of the book:
| Striking Thoughts by Bruce Lee Book Summary 📚 |
|---|
| Top Quote 💡 |
| “Independent inquiry is needed in your search for truth, not dependence on anyone else’s view or a mere book.” — Bruce Lee 🌟 |
| What Is the Book About? 📘 |
| Striking Thoughts* is a collection of over 800 aphorisms, sayings, and personal notes penned by Bruce Lee throughout his lifetime. It delves into his insights on over 70 subjects, including martial arts, philosophy, and life in general. 📖 |
| Why Read It? 🤔 |
| For those aspiring to be martial artists, athletes, actors, artists, or philosophers, this book is a must-read. Even for others, it’s a treasury of daily guidance and solace, providing the right words at the right time, regardless of your current needs. With its clear insights and thought-provoking ideas, this book will leave a lasting impact. 🌟 |
| Key Lessons 🎓 |
| 1. The essential answers to life’s most significant questions won’t be handed to you; you must uncover them on your own. 🔍 |
| 2. Philosophy isn’t reserved for scholars; it’s about identifying practical, applicable principles that help you navigate daily existence. 🤝 |
| 3. Life revolves around genuine, unfiltered self-expression. 🎭 |
