Bruce Lee
The Standpoint!
“Empty your mind. Be formless, shapeless like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend.” — Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee is the most influential martial artist in modern history. He was also voted as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century by Times Magazine.
He died at the age early age of 32 in 1976 and yet left a legacy behind. Now, nearly 50 years later, the world still reckons the momentum created by him in his brief lifetime.
Bruce Lee is known for the phrase “be like water”, but what does that actually mean? During his tragically short career as a movie star, the martial arts legend created a number of inspirational quotes, which are still being repeated today by athletes, philosophers, and more.
When Lee says to be “formless”, he means that people shouldn’t allow themselves to be trapped in a certain mindset. Instead, a person should be able to adapt to certain situations, grow, and change; that’s how one can adopt the qualities of water. That’s the basic interpretation of the phrase, but there’s actually deeper meaning to be found in it, which can be more easily understood when looking at Lee’s background and his previous comments about water.
The emptiness that is full of life. Be empty that you truly are and fill yourself with the things you want based on your conscience and understanding and intelligence. In the words of Bruce Lee, empty your mind, be formless, shapeless — like water.
The Bottom Line. Bruce Lee’s, “be like water, my friend” simply means to be flexible in both mind and body. It’s about not being rigid and stubborn about your beliefs, practices, understanding, and instead, about being open-minded and able to change and adapt to the circumstances we are put into.
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