Bruce Lee, actor and philosopher: “If you always put limits on everything you do, it will spread into your life”

Bruce Lee was an exceptional person of many talents. He was an acclaimed actor and filmmaker, a skilled and revolutionary martial artist, and the creator his own philosophical framework called Jeet Kune Do. He is considered one of the most important and influential people of the 20^th century.

His Kung Fu movies introduced and popularized martial arts among the wider public in the West. Lee was also a monumental icon for numerous actors, athletes, and martial artists, who credited him with shaping their careers and philosophy.

Lee is perhaps best known for his saying “become like water my friend,” adapting to what surrounds you, because “if nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.” He also inspired people to always better themselves, believing failure wasn’t the crime, but instead setting one’s sights low and not striving to reach one’s goals.

“Don’t fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.”

Bruce Lee

Doubt yourself and you will forever stay on the ground

Along these lines he is remembered for another powerful quote: “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”

Lee was telling us with the first part of the message that there are no real barriers to achieving our goals, only the ones that we create in our own minds. His philosophy was that if you put your mind to something you can do it, but if you doubt yourself you will forever stay on the ground as reflected in this poem he wrote:

“The doubters said, ‘Man can not fly.’

The doers said, ‘Maybe, but we’ll try.’

And finally [they] soared in the morning glow

While non-believers watched from below.”

Bruce Lee

With the second part, Lee was expressing the common experience that befalls all of us. Even if we are constantly trying to improve, there comes a point where it seems like we have hit a wall and we cannot make any more gains, our improvement stagnates.

While the gains might not be evident, we are still moving forward, honing the thing that we have already accomplished. “Be happy, but never satisfied,” Lee advised.

No matter what the perceived obstacle is, he encouraged people to keep pushing forward, come what may. As he once said: “Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

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