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
At the beginning of human history, as we struggled to light fires and to chisel fallen trees into rudimentary canoes, who could have predicted that long after we had managed to send men to the moon and areoplanes to Australasia, we would still have such trouble knowing how to tolerate ourselves, forgive our loved ones, and apologise for our tantrums?
Alain De BottonRead
There is nothing we like to communicate to others as much as the seal of secrecy together with what lies under it.
Friedrich NietzscheRead
Gaza is often described as 'the world's largest open air prison' because no-one is allowed to enter or leave. But that seems a bit unfair to prisons - they donβt have their electricity and drinking water cut off randomly almost every day.
BanksyRead
Absolutely speaking, Do unto others as you would that they should do unto you is by no means a golden rule, but the best of current silver. An honest man would have but little occasion for it. It is golden not to have any rule at all in such a case.
Henry David ThoreauRead
The body is only a garment. How many times you have changed your clothing in this life, yet because of this you would not say that you have changed. Similarly, when you give up this bodily dress at death you do not change. You are just the same, an immortal soul, a child of God.
Paramahansa YoganandaRead
The thing that is important is the thing that is not seen.
Antoine De Saint-ExuperyRead