To Bruce Lee, philosophy was not the professional playground of academics, but every human being’s gateway to the greatest adventure of the human spirit.

The secret of life. — The aphorism “as a man thinketh in his heart so is he”* contains the secret of life. James Allen further added “A man is literally what he thinks.” This might be a shocking statement, but everything is a state of mind.

traded and conceptualized and squeezed into a pattern of systems.

Lee pointed out that “We have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate,” with the result that we are encouraged—and have opted—to look to anyone but ourselves for the answers to our most unsettling questions. Too many are confused about whom to trust, suspicious of their own impulses and uncertain of their futures. Spirits have been

This counsel given by Lee with regard to his teachings is particularly pertinent: To live is a constant process of relating, so come on out of that shell of isolation and conclusion, and relate DIRECTLY to what is being said. Bear in mind I seek neither your approval nor to influence you. So do not make up your mind as to “this is this” or “that is

The way of death. — Through the ages, the end for heroes is the same as for ordinary men. They all died and gradually faded away in the memory of man.

Pliability is life. — Be pliable. When a man is living, he is soft and pliable; when he is dead, he becomes rigid. Pliability is life; rigidity is death, whether one speaks of man’s body, his mind, or his spirit.

The fundamental relationship between existence and cognition. — To doubt is to think, and thought is the only thing in

The life of perfection is the simple life. — A simple life is one of plainness, in which profit is discarded, cleverness abandoned, selfishness eliminated, and desires reduced. It is the life of perfection which seems to be incomplete, and of fullness which seems to be empty. It is the life which is as bright as light, but does not dazzle. In short