“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”
- November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973
- Hong Kong-American
- Martial Artist, Actor, Director, Philosopher, Founder of Jeet Kune Do
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Quote
“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”
Explanation
This quote captures the balance between discipline and freedom. Bruce Lee acknowledges the value of principles—they offer guidance, structure, and clarity—but warns against allowing them to become rigid constraints that stifle creativity or adaptability. To “obey” means to respect and understand the foundation, but to avoid being “bound” means retaining the flexibility to evolve beyond it when necessary.
Lee applied this thinking directly to martial arts. He respected traditional techniques and principles, yet believed that clinging too tightly to form limits personal growth and real-world effectiveness. His own Jeet Kune Do was founded on this insight: absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own. Principles are starting points, not cages.
In a wider context, this quote is a lesson in adaptive thinking. Whether in science, art, leadership, or personal ethics, rules and systems are tools—not absolutes. Great innovators often master the rules before bending or breaking them to create something new. Lee’s wisdom encourages us to build on tradition, but not be enslaved by it—to know the path, but walk it freely.
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