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.
My strength comes from my abdomen. It's the center of gravity and the source of real power.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of physical and inner strength originating from one's core.
In this quote, Bruce Lee highlights the significance of the abdomen as a metaphorical center of strength and balance. By referring to it as the 'center of gravity', he suggests that true power comes from within, rooted in one's core values, beliefs, and physical strength. This philosophy encourages individuals to cultivate their inner strength to overcome challenges, emphasizing that true power is not just physical but also deeply connected to mental fortitude and self-awareness.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a fitness workshop to emphasize the importance of core strength in physical training.
More from Bruce Lee
All quotes →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.
Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.
Do not allow negative thoughts to enter your mind for they are the weeds that strange confidence.
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.
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.
Similar quotes
If the State cannot survive the anti-slavery agitation, then let the State perish. If the Church must be cast down by the strugglings of Humanity to be free, then let the Church fall and its fragments be scattered to the four winds of Heaven, never more to curse the earth.
When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it will not do to think about going at it in a long roundabout way. One's heart may slacken, he may miss his chance, and by and large there will be no success. The Way of the Samurai is one of immediacy, and it is best to dash in headlong.
The war of my life had begun; and though one of God's most powerless creatures, I resolved never to be conquered.
Who are your favourite heroines in real life? The women of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran who risk their lives and their beauty to defy the foulness of theocracy. Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Azar Nafisi as their ideal feminine model.
Do you know how many women in a survey reported experiences of sexual harassment on the job? Eighty percent. It is so common. It's normalized. And it's an abuse of power.
Courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin. Compassion without courage is not genuine. You may have a compassionate thought or impulse, but if you don’t do or say anything, it’s not real compassion.