BRUCE LEE QUOTES

Hong Kong American martial artist & actor (1940-1973)

When you're talking about fighting, as it is, with no rules, well then, baby you'd better train every part of your body!

BRUCE LEE

Bruce Lee: The Lost Interview, 1971


It is not what happens that is success or failure, but what it does to the heart of man.

BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way

Tags: success


Life is wide, limitless. There is no border, no frontier.

BRUCE LEE

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

Tags: life


False teachers of the Way of life use flowery words.

BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way

Tags: words


Truth has no path. Truth is living and, therefore, changing.

BRUCE LEE

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Tags: truth


Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.

BRUCE LEE

attributed, Bruce Lee: Fighting Spirit


Pleasure is the flower that fades, remembrance is the lasting perfume.

BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way

Tags: pleasure


The classical man is just a bundle of routine, ideas and tradition. If you follow the classical pattern, you are understanding the routine, the tradition, the shadow -- you are not understanding yourself.

BRUCE LEE

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Tags: tradition


Nowadays you don't go around on the street kicking people, punching people -- because if you do (makes gun shape with hand), well that's it -- I don't care how good you are.

BRUCE LEE

interview, Pierre Berton Show, 1971

Tags: guns


An instructor should exemplify the things he seeks to teach. It will be of great advantage if you yourself can do all you ask of your students and more.

BRUCE LEE

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Tags: teaching


Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.

BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way

Tags: action


With every adversity comes a blessing because a shock acts as a reminder to oneself that we must not get stale in routine.

BRUCE LEE

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living


The primary reality is not what I think, but that I live, for those also live who do not think.

BRUCE LEE

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

Tags: thought


It is not a daily increase, but a daily decrease. Hack away at the inessentials.

BRUCE LEE

attributed, Lead Yourself Today

Tags: simplicity


What is defeat? Nothing but education, nothing but the first step to something better.

BRUCE LEE

Jeet Kune Do: Bruce Lee's Commentaries on the Martial Way

Tags: defeat


Boards don't hit back.

BRUCE LEE

Enter the Dragon


There is no such thing as maturity. There is instead an ever-evolving process of maturing. Because when there is a maturity, there is a conclusion and a cessation. That's the end. That's when the coffin is closed.

BRUCE LEE

The Warrior Within: The Philosophies of Bruce Lee

Tags: maturity


My friend, drop all your preconceived and fixed ideas and be neutral. Do you know why this cup is useful? Because it is empty.

BRUCE LEE

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

Tags: ideas


A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.

BRUCE LEE

Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee's Wisdom for Daily Living

Tags: wisdom


Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life. Do not be concerned with escaping safely -- lay your life before him.

BRUCE LEE

attributed, Bruce Lee: Artist of Life