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.
Bruce LeeRead
'What is' is more important than 'what should be.' Too many people are looking at 'what is' from a position of thinking 'what should be'.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Recognizing reality is more crucial than focusing solely on ideals or how things ought to be.
This quote by Bruce Lee emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting the current state of affairs, rather than being preoccupied with our perceptions of how things ought to be. It suggests that many people fail to see reality clearly because they are too caught up in their expectations, which can hinder personal growth and effective decision-making.
Themes
RealityAcceptanceExpectationsPhilosophyPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal growth and acceptance.
More from Bruce Lee
All quotes βThereβs only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.
Bruce LeeRead
Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.
Bruce LeeRead
Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind for they are the weeds that strange confidence.
Bruce LeeRead
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.
Bruce LeeRead
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.
Bruce LeeRead
Similar quotes
The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world.
Lao TzuRead
I firmly believe that when you die you will enter immediately into another life. They who have gone before us are alive in one form of life and we in another.
Norman Vincent PealeRead
Nearly all creators of Utopia have resembled the man who has toothache, and therefore thinks happiness consists in not having toothache... Whoever tries to imagine perfection simply reveals his own emptiness.
George OrwellRead
What is the answer? In that case, what is the question?
Gertrude SteinRead
The emotional reaction in the peak experience has a special flavor of wonder, of awe, of reverence, of humility and surrender before the experience as before something great.
Abraham MaslowRead
There is a sense in which we are all each other's consequences
Wallace StegnerRead