Enter the mind of Bruce Lee

John Blake
By John Blake, CNN
9 minute read
Updated 12:30 PM EDT, Mon July 20, 2020
Bruce Lee was known as an amazing martial artist, but he was also a profound thinker. He left behind seven volumes of writing on everything from quantum physics to philosophy.<br />
Bruce Lee was known as an amazing martial artist, but he was also a profound thinker. He left behind seven volumes of writing on everything from quantum physics to philosophy.
Michael Ochs Archives
Bruce Lee, right, along with his mother and siblings poses for a family snapshot circa the late 1950s in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lee grew up in an affluent family. His father was a famous opera star.
Bruce Lee, right, along with his mother and siblings poses for a family snapshot circa the late 1950s in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Lee grew up in an affluent family. His father was a famous opera star.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Bruce Lee portrays a young thug in an early TV performance. He acted in at least 20 films as a child actor in Hong Kong.<br />
Bruce Lee portrays a young thug in an early TV performance. He acted in at least 20 films as a child actor in Hong Kong.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
One of Lee's big breaks in Hollywood came when he portrayed Kato, the sidekick to the crime-fighting masked hero, the Green Hornet. The 1966 television series was short-lived, but it helped Lee build a following in Hong Kong.<br />
One of Lee's big breaks in Hollywood came when he portrayed Kato, the sidekick to the crime-fighting masked hero, the Green Hornet. The 1966 television series was short-lived, but it helped Lee build a following in Hong Kong.
ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images
Bruce Lee, his mother and son Brandon pose for a family snapshot circa 1970 in Los Angeles. Lee taught Brandon the martial arts. Brandon would later become an actor and martial artist before a tragic accident ended his life in 1993.
Bruce Lee, his mother and son Brandon pose for a family snapshot circa 1970 in Los Angeles. Lee taught Brandon the martial arts. Brandon would later become an actor and martial artist before a tragic accident ended his life in 1993.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
He barely weighted 150 pounds but the power of Bruce Lee's kicks were legendary.
He barely weighted 150 pounds but the power of Bruce Lee's kicks were legendary.
Michael Ochs Archives/Moviepix/Getty Images
Bruce Lee with his signature weapon, the dreaded nunchakus. The weapon was actually introduced to him by his training partner. Lee's ability to learn it so quickly amazed his partner.<br />.
Bruce Lee with his signature weapon, the dreaded nunchakus. The weapon was actually introduced to him by his training partner. Lee's ability to learn it so quickly amazed his partner.
.
Archive Photos/Moviepix/Getty Images
After Bruce Lee was rejected by Hollywood, he left for Hong Kong where he made a series of films that made him into a star. Here, he appears in a scene from "Fist of Fury."<br />
After Bruce Lee was rejected by Hollywood, he left for Hong Kong where he made a series of films that made him into a star. Here, he appears in a scene from "Fist of Fury."
Movie Poster Image Art/Moviepix/Getty Images
Bruce Lee with producer Fred Weintraub, on the set of the movie "Enter the Dragon," 1973. The movie was his first Hollywood movie and reports said he knew it would be a huge hit even before it came out.
Bruce Lee with producer Fred Weintraub, on the set of the movie "Enter the Dragon," 1973. The movie was his first Hollywood movie and reports said he knew it would be a huge hit even before it came out.
Stanley Bielecki Movie Collection/Moviepix/Getty Images
A poster for Robert Clouse's drama "The Game of Death" starring Bruce Lee and released in 1978 five years after Lee's death. "The Game of Death," shot in 1972 but left incomplete when Lee died, would be his last film.
A poster for Robert Clouse's drama "The Game of Death" starring Bruce Lee and released in 1978 five years after Lee's death. "The Game of Death," shot in 1972 but left incomplete when Lee died, would be his last film.
Movie Poster Image Art/Moviepix/Getty Images
Actor Steve McQueen straightens the sign on the casket at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973. Before he became a star, Lee taught the martial arts to celebrities such as McQueen and actor James Coburn.
Actor Steve McQueen straightens the sign on the casket at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973. Before he became a star, Lee taught the martial arts to celebrities such as McQueen and actor James Coburn.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Enter the Mind of Bruce Lee

Editor’s Note: This story originally published in 2016.

CNN  — 

Bruce Lee, the martial arts icon, was being interviewed by a Hong Kong talk show host when the man asked Lee if he saw himself as Chinese or an American.

“Neither,” Lee said. “I think of myself as a human being.”

Forty-three years after his sudden death in July of 1973, more people are starting to think of Lee as something else: A profound thinker whose mind was as supple as his body.

That may seem like an odd claim. Lee was a fighter, not a philosopher, according to popular perception. He left behind some of the most exhilarating fight scenes ever captured on film in movies such as “Enter the Dragon” and “The “Chinese Connection.”