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Knowledge in martial arts actually means self-knowledge. A martial artist has to take responsibility for himself and accept the consequences of his own doing. The understanding of JKD is through personal feeling from movement to movement in the mirror of the relationship and not through a process of isolation. To be is to be related. To isolate is death. To me, ultimately, martial arts means honestly expressing yourself. Now, it is very difficult to do. It has always been very easy for me to put on a show and be cocky, and be flooded with a cocky feeling and feel pretty cool and all that. I can make all kinds of phoney things. Blinded by it. Or I can show some really fancy movement. But to experience oneself honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly, now that, my friend, is very hard to do.

Bruce Lee#119

Martial artsLifeTruthExpressionSelf expression

About this quote

What does it mean?
Martial arts mean honest self-expression and responsibility; faking confidence is easy, genuine expression is hard.
In plain terms
Be honest about yourself instead of faking confidence.
What can you take from it?
Prioritize honest self-expression over showmanship.

Where it applies

  • performance
  • personal growth
  • relationships

Putting it to work

  • practice honesty
  • drop pretense
  • accept consequences

Questions to consider

  • What stops you from being honest?
  • How do you express yourself truly?

Another view

Social performance is sometimes required in public settings.

More from Bruce Lee

  1. Knowing is not enough, you must apply; willing is not enough, you must do.

    Permalink to quote #118
  2. Learn the principle, abide by the principle, and dissolve the principle. In short, enter a mold without being caged in it. Obey the principle without being bou…

    Permalink to quote #120
  3. Jeet Kune Do uses no way as way. The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.

    Permalink to quote #117

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