Memorable Quotes from Jason Scott Lee
7 quotesBridging Cultures Through Martial Arts Understanding
Principal Elder
Bruce, I know that you like to be called Bruce. You have been charged with violating the martial arts code. We've had several complaints from Wu Zuo Lin and ] and many others. You've been teaching the gwai lo, this must stop.
[[w:Wong Jack Man|Wong Jack Man]
Bruce Lee
I'll teach whoever wants to learn.
Principal Elder
Bruce, we do things differently here. One of the things we do not do is teach our secrets to white, blacks. They are the enemy.
Bruce Lee
... They are not the enemy. They just don't know us. We've been so closed for so long, they've never seen the real beauty of our culture. Lets show it to them.
[Elders grumble]
Principal Elder
I'm sorry. We do not agree. You are ordered to stop teaching the gwai lo.
Bruce Lee
Or what?
Principal Elder
Or we will settle this by combat! Prepare yourself.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identity and Responsibility in Cultural Conflict
Bruce Lee
Sorry about your father. That was Koreans. I'm an American.
[Having defeated a group of college jocks; to their leader who mocked him for being like the North Koreans; leaves]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Financial Decisions and Future Planning
Gussie Yang
Two weeks pay. Two weeks severance.
[counts off one set of bills; another set of bills]
Bruce Lee
What's this?
[sees a third set of bills]
Yang
All-purpose loan. You got a lot of money, Lee. What you gonna do?
Lee
I guess I'd better-
Yang
I tell you what to do. Take April on the town. Buy her nice clothes. Check into big hotel. Have lots of sex. Have food brought up to you in bed. Drink champagne and whiskey. Now money all gone. April be gone, too, like money. You come back to me. I put you in kitchen, wash dishes to pay back loan. By that time you're no longer young, you're no longer handsome. You're nothing but a... dishwasher. That one choice. There are others.
[walks around him; whispers; looks toward Lee]
Lee
Like what?
Yang
They say education is good. hmm. I've heard that. Me, personally... I hope you go with April. I can always use a good... dishwasher!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Confrontation Over Honor and Betrayal
Luke Sun
My brother can't talk right. He can't walk right. You have dishonored my family. I have sworn to kill you.
Bruce Lee
Swearing is easy.
Director
What the hell are they saying? Those lines aren't in the script!
[to assistant in Cantonese]
Sun
I read your book. I know all your tricks.
Lee
Let's see how well you've learned your lesson.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Home for Work and Family
Bruce Lee
Home's here for now.
Linda
No. here is where we watch you work.
Bruce
What do you want me to do?
Linda
I want you to come with us.
Bruce
Forget it. I worked in America for ten years and what did it get me? It got me nothing.
Linda
It got you me.
Bruce
Oh, man. They got such a good line of bullshit. "Come and get it!" "America, the mountain of gold!" "It's for everybody!!" Yeah, it's for everybody white, but they don't tell you that! You gotta read the small print! If you can read.
Linda
I am not America. Your kids are not America. Don't push us away. We're going. I want you to come with us. I want the kids to have a father again.
[lays hands on Bruce's cheeks]
Bruce
Don't lay any guilt trips on me! I'm not taking any guilt trips!
[swipes off hands]
Linda
This place is eating us up! Can't you see that, Bruce?
Bruce
This place has given us a life! I'm somebody here! I'm special! Back there, I'm just another gook! Just another wetback, Charlie Chan, slopehead, coolie dishwasher in a stinking chinkie restaurant!
[one-arms contents off of a vanity table]
Brandon Lee
Mom!
[in another room with a crying Shannon]
Bruce
Wash your shirt, Mister White Man? Please? No tickee, no shirtee! Order one from Column "A" and one from Column "B"!
[mock Chinese accent]
Brandon
Mommy!
Bruce
Me happy to build the railroads! Me happy to dig the mines for you, Mister White Man!
[slams cabinet door]
Brandon
Mommy, I'm scared! Mommy, what's happening?
Bruce
Is that who I am?! Is it?! Tell me! TELL ME THAT'S WHO I AM!!!
Linda
I don't know who the hell you are anymore! Do you?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Challenge Accepted in a Heated Moment
Bruce Lee
Okay, I'll prove it. I'll need someone to prove it on. I'll beat any man in this room in 60 seconds!
[reacts to voice, but one voice cuts in]
Voice
I'll fight him!
[Bruce looks in the voice's direction and sees Johnny Sun and his brother appear]
Johnny Sun
I beat him before!... I beat him again!
[audience cheers]
Linda Emery Lee
What are you, crazy? The doctor said no more fighting.
[to Bruce from the apron]
Bruce
They told me I'd never walk again, too.
Linda
When will you be happy? When they're right? Bruce, I'm begging you, If you love me-.
Bruce
This isn't about you and me.
Linda
Fine, but I'm not going through this again, do you understand me? You get hurt, You're on your own.
[walks away]
Bruce
Don't go anywhere, Hon! It'll be over in 60 seconds!
[Linda looks back at him]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embrace Flexibility and Strength Like Water
Bruce Lee
You see that? You see how it flows? Be like water. Water is the softest stuff in the world. But it can fit into any container. It seems weak, but it can penetrate rock. Be like the nature of water. That's it for today. Now we spar.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.