Top 35 Most Inspiring Bruce Lee Quotes

Bruce Lee (born 27 November 1940, Chinese Hospital, San Francisco, California, United States – died 20 July 1973, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong) was a Chinese American martial artist, actor, film director, martial arts instructor and philosopher. He is known for movies like 'Fists of Fury' and 'Enter the Dragon,' and the technique Jeet Kune Do.

Bruce Lee was and still is the most influential martial artist of all time. He lived a short but very impactful life.

As you think, so shall you become.
As you think, so shall you become.
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.
Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.
Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.
Showing off is the fool's idea of glory.
Be happy, but never satisfied.
Be happy, but never satisfied.
I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.
I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.
To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.
To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.
Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.
Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.
Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.
Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.

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.

Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.

Bruce Lee
Having no limitation as limitation.
Having no limitation as limitation.
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.
If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done.
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.
Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick.
Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick.
Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.
Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.
Real living is living for others.
Real living is living for others.
In the middle of chaos lies opportunity.
In the middle of chaos lies opportunity.
Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.
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 fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.
Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.
Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.
The more we value things, the less we value ourselves.
The more we value things, the less we value ourselves.
If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.
If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
The possession of anything begins in the mind.
The possession of anything begins in the mind.
If you don’t want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.
If you don’t want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.
Obey the principles without being bound by them.
Obey the principles without being bound by them.
A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.
A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.
It’s not what you give, it’s the way you give it.
It’s not what you give, it’s the way you give it.

I am learning to understand rather than immediately judge or to be judged. I cannot blindly follow the crowd and accept their approach. I will not allow myself to indulge in the usual manipulating game of role creation. Fortunately for me, my self-knowledge has transcended that and I have come to understand that life is best to be lived and not to be conceptualized. I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. I treasure the memory of the past misfortunes. It has added more to my bank of fortitude.

Bruce Lee
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.
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.
The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.
The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.
Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.
Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.
For it is easy to criticize and break down the spirit of others, but to know yourself takes a lifetime.
For it is easy to criticize and break down the spirit of others, but to know yourself takes a lifetime.
Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.
Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.
To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.
To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.
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