Striking Thoughts

Striking Thoughts is a compendium of over 800 aphorisms, sayings, and private notes recorded by Bruce Lee throughout his life, detailing his perspectives on over 70 topics, including martial arts, philosophy, and life.

After his involuntary thinking retreat, Bruce developed a deep appreciation of independent thought. He would forever reject dogma of any kind. In fact, when he developed Jeet Kune Do, his own martial arts philosophy, he never formalized it so each student would interpret it in their own way.

“Bear in mind I seek neither your approval nor to influence you,” he would tell them. “So do not make up your mind as to ‘this is this’ or ‘that is that.’ I will be more than satisfied if you begin to learn to investigate everything yourself from now on.”

Bruce believed that the only way to find truth is to find your truth. “Independent inquiry is needed in your search for truth, not dependence on anyone else’s view or a mere book,” he noted. You should “adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own,” be it in your work, art, or contributions to family life.

Thinking for yourself is the backbone of intelligence, creativity, and confidence. Bruce bucked about every trend of his time, from traditional Kung Fu techniques to breaking into Hollywood as an Asian actor. He never could have done it if he hadn’t trusted his own mind above all others.

We often have “more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate,” Bruce said. But if you want real answers to life’s biggest questions, independent inquiry is the only way.

When he opened his first martial arts school in Seattle in the 1960s, Bruce hoped to instruct his students in more than just martial arts, exactly like his teacher did for him. To that end, he often told new entrants the following story:

I love this story so much, I started a daily newsletter in its spirit. Bruce agreed with the Stoic philosopher Epictetus that “it is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” Yes, it’s important to never take anything at face value. But it matters even more that you stop judging and approach each new situation with a clean slate.

If the only way to find truth is to find your truth, it is essential to keep an open mind at all times. If your head is already filled with preconceived notions, you won’t have any space left to arrive at your own insights. Keep what Zen Buddhists call “a beginner’s mind,” and always remember to empty your cup.