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Effort within the mind further limits the mind, because effort implies struggle towards a goal and when you have a goal, a purpose, an end in view, you have placed a limit on the mind.
Bruce Lee
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Effort and striving can restrict our thinking when we focus too much on specific goals.

Bruce Lee's quote suggests that the mental effort we invest in striving towards certain goals can inadvertently constrain our creativity and freedom of thought. By fixating on specific ends, we may limit our cognitive capacities and overlook new possibilities or alternate paths that could lead to greater achievements or insights. Lee advocates for a more fluid and open-minded approach to thinking, encouraging a mindset that transcends rigid goals.

Themes

EffortMindLimitsGoalCreativity

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming obstacles.

More from Bruce Lee

An intelligent mind is an inquiring mind. It is not satisfied with explanation, with conclusions. Nor is it a mind that believes, because belief is again another form of conclusion.
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There’s only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.
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Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.
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Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind for they are the weeds that strange confidence.
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More and more I believe in the fact that you have two hands and two legs, and the thing is how to make good use of yourself - and that's about it.
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Because one does not want to be disturbed, to be made uncertain, he establishes a pattern of conduct, of thought, a pattern of relationships to man. He then becomes a slave to the pattern and takes the pattern to be the real thing.
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