10 Must read Inspirational Sayings from Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee is often thought of as an iconic martial arts action film star, which, of course, he was. He was also a director and producer of films and the founder of the Jeet Kuhn Do school of martial arts, as well as a well-read philosopher.

Bruce Lee

Lee was a film icon whose roles gave rise to a new popular interest in martial arts around the world. While he felt that physical training was an important feature of martial arts practice, and he pushed his body to and past its limits in development of physical skills, he emphasized that mental and spiritual preparation was the critical piece for success in martial arts. To this end, Lee studied philosophy and drama and had a vast library. He became known within and outside of the martial arts circles for his philosophical approach to fighting and to life, and he often claimed that his fighting was a metaphor for his philosophical beliefs.

Lee also felt that his poetry, in a free-form kind of verse, was an example of his belief that man should be like water – without form and fluid.

Lee’s premature death at the age of 32 was shocking and brought speculation about the cause among those who did not accept a coroner’s report stating that Lee had died from cerebral edema. There were rumors that he had become a victim of the Triad or possibly a curse placed on him by those who did not approve of his teaching style. His home in Hong Kong has been preserved as a tourist site filled with memorabilia, and his statue stands at the Avenue of the Stars in Hong Kong.

Bruce Lee’s philosophy presents a good picture of the interior man, and remains an inspiration to the many people whose lives he continues to touch. Here are some of his most well-known sayings:

• “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough: we must do.”

This quote highlights the importance of action; while knowledge of and willingness to respond to life’s challenges are noble feats, they amount to little if not coupled with the right action.

• “Defeat is a state of mind; no one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.”

This quote gives emphasis on the idea that our attitudes and thoughts are what shape our reality of whether we have “won” or been “defeated”. So long as we resolve to stay positive and never accept defeat in our minds, we will have never been defeated in real life.

• “Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.”

This quote is a lesson on self awareness and awareness of the world around us. It shows that unless we look far outside of our current situation in a new way, we may never realize the good that we are missing.

• “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

This quote is about courage and the ability to accept and learn from mistakes. It is meant to show that making mistakes is okay, and that one can always rebound from a mistake as long as we are willing to admit where we’ve made one.

• “It is truly regrettable that a person will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and a man who is worthless to him poorly.” (Samurai proverb)

This quote is an observation about a sad part of humanity: that rather than treating everyone with respect and valuing everyone no matter who they are, many human beings will only treat others well if they need something from them.

• “If you don't want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.”

This quote it truly about the importance of honesty and truth. While it doesn’t say the word “lie”, this quote essentially represents the idea that if you want to ensure that you don’t have problems in the future, always tell the truth and not lies, since they will surely come back to bite you.

• “Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man, but sooner or later, the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”

This quote is a life lesson about having confidence in the face of any challenge. It emphasizes the fact that no matter what level of talent or ability someone might have, the person who is successful and “wins” in life’s challenges are the ones who believe in themselves.

• “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.”

This quote is among some of Bruce Lee’s most famous words, and they essentially mean that in order to be at peace with yourself and be able to face life’s challenges with grace and strength, you must be able to adapt and be flexible with everything. If you don’t allow change and growth, by being “rigid” or stubborn inside, you will often have problems in life.

• “A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”

This quote is simple and it addresses the negative trait of having a bad temper. While some people with a temper see it as a sign of masculinity, a quick temper will actually make you lose judgment by not allowing you to think things through, turning you into a fool.

• “The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”

This quote is a reminder of the importance of both adaptability and calmness. By having high expectations of certain life situations, we will often be let down. But if we try not to anticipate any outcome and just enjoy life’s process, we will be able to find successful situations for ourselves.

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Katelyn writes for NetQin , a company dedicated to keeping students protected.