TED Talks

What Bruce Lee can teach us about living fully | Shannon Lee

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more. Most of us know Bruce Lee as the famous martial artist and action film star — but he was also a philosopher who taught “self-actualization”: the practice of how to be yourself in the best way possible. In this…

Published

7 years ago

November 4, 2019

CYBER TECH TV

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized Talk recommendations and more.

Most of us know Bruce Lee as the famous martial artist and action film star — but he was also a philosopher who taught “self-actualization”: the practice of how to be yourself in the best way possible. In this inspiring talk, Bruce’s daughter Shannon Lee takes us inside the mind of her father, exploring how to use his philosophy in your daily life to achieve profound personal growth and make a lasting impact.

Get TED Talks recommended just for you! Learn more at .

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:

Related Topics:featured

Up Next

After billions of years of monotony, the universe is waking up | David Deutsch

Don't Miss

A radical plan to end plastic waste | Andrew Forrest

30 Comments

GorillaGuerilla

November 4, 2019 at 7:15 pm

I’m always trying to be water – xièxiè dàshī….

Reply
rajib malik

November 4, 2019 at 7:16 pm

She’s disgusting, has nothing to do with Bruce Lee, and is a terrible person in comparison

Reply
- jazzyrumba
  
  November 4, 2019 at 7:26 pm
  
  Your rite… i mean, shes only His daughter ????‍♂️????
  
  Reply
- dAVAb
  
  November 4, 2019 at 7:40 pm
  
  @rajib malik you are a complete idiot.
  
  Reply
John Chapman

November 4, 2019 at 7:17 pm

Don’t concentrate on the finger… Or you’ll miss all the heavenly glory.

Reply
muffin87man

November 4, 2019 at 7:18 pm

So nice, had to listen twice

Reply
m109cito

November 4, 2019 at 7:20 pm

What do you mean?Don not waste my time

Reply
valerie joyce

November 4, 2019 at 7:24 pm

????

Reply
Robyn Evans

November 4, 2019 at 7:26 pm

????????????

Reply
- Fayssal Amin
  
  November 4, 2019 at 7:37 pm
  
  ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
  
  Reply
YoshiPeach Mario

November 4, 2019 at 7:27 pm

You know when a legend has kids and they turn out to be nowhere near as great as their parent?

This is another example.

When Bruce Lee spoke philosophy and psychology, he actually made sense. She’s just talking crap.

Reply
- Danokbp Styles
  
  November 4, 2019 at 7:29 pm
  
  Ouchhhhh!!!!!
  
  Reply
abcc02

November 4, 2019 at 7:30 pm

Hi all. Just think about the idea and the story the lady is telling. Forget her history and person she tallks about. Have a good life.

Reply
Adiel Fernandes

November 4, 2019 at 7:34 pm

Mindblowing ????????

Reply
blurglide

November 4, 2019 at 7:38 pm

Your dad is an inspiration, but you’re a shill to the oppressive Chinese censors. (Shannon Lee got them to ban the release of “Once upon a time in Hollywood” there due to her not liking the depiction of her father)

Reply
octavio michel.R

November 4, 2019 at 7:41 pm

Watching this ted talk was a unique experienced, and as an actor it certainly made me think. I also learned a lot from the comments that were written, and I think it is important to understand that even if you do not like the person giving you a message, you still have to acknowledge that the message is useful in art.

Reply
dAVAb

November 4, 2019 at 7:46 pm

I remember before Bruce Lee, all Asians or any brown-skinned peoples were treated as subordinates. After Bruce’s first movie, Chinese Connection showed at the local drive-ins, my entire high school looked at all Asians quite differently as if we all knew kung-fu. Bruce saved us, he gave us pride and reminded us to be the best we truly are.

Reply
Matt C

November 4, 2019 at 7:48 pm

Talk about cashing in on your family name.

Reply
George .S.

November 4, 2019 at 7:51 pm

She looks just like him!

Reply
Shaun Keith

November 4, 2019 at 7:51 pm

Milf ????

Reply
thenonexistinghero

November 4, 2019 at 7:51 pm

He died young and his son died young. I’ll skip the lesson.

Reply
- matt noland
  
  November 4, 2019 at 8:17 pm
  
  thenonexistinghero from drugs
  
  Reply
the NW geology Guy

November 4, 2019 at 7:59 pm

Awesome talk Ms Lee. Seattle misses our true master. He was truly a head of his time. RIP Bruce Lee

Reply
Chris Carter

November 4, 2019 at 8:00 pm

LIFETIME PEACE LOVE ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????❤❤????????????????????????????????????????????

Reply
yomama isobama

November 4, 2019 at 8:01 pm

what bruce lee means is that u need to buy a bulletproof vest , NOW ON SALE 50% GET URS NOW ON http://WWW.NOTEXPENSIVEBULLETPROOFVESTS.COM

Reply
marcos antonio martinez

November 4, 2019 at 8:02 pm

an extraordinary man

Reply
Vinco Galzu Tzu

November 4, 2019 at 8:09 pm

Respectfully beautiful analysis/&dissection????????

Reply
Viktor 1999

November 4, 2019 at 8:27 pm

isn’t that just the golden circle of Simon Sinek???

Reply
David Tordai

November 4, 2019 at 8:28 pm

Best Fighter in World!

Reply
BulletRain

November 4, 2019 at 8:32 pm

No he can’t he’s dead.

Reply

People & Blogs

I Thought I Was Lazy. Turns Out I Had a Sleep Disorder | Lindsay Scola | TED

For more than two decades, sleep health educator Lindsay Scola attributed her never-ending exhaustion to long hours and demanding jobs. When she was diagnosed with narcolepsy, she finally got the wake-up call that transformed her life. In this rousing talk, she discusses the epidemic of undiagnosed sleep disorders and encourages you to ask yourself: Is…

Published

1 day ago

October 18, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at

#TED #TEDTalks #Health

People & Blogs

Campaigns Spend Millions to Influence Voters. This Works Better | Katie Paris | TED

Katie Paris quit her career in Washington, DC, to figure out how to make politics feel less like strangers shouting at each other and more like friends looking out for each other. In this practical talk, she reveals why conversations between real people can have a bigger impact on elections than anything millions of campaign…

Published

2 days ago

October 17, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

#TED #TEDTalks #Community

People & Blogs

AI and the End of Loneliness | Paul Bloom | TED

Published

3 days ago

October 16, 2026

CYBER TECH TV

AI companions may soon cure loneliness, says psychologist Paul Bloom: a gift for the isolated and the elderly, but a danger for the young, who need to experience the hard work of real relationships. So what happens to a generation raised on chatbots that never need an apology or get bored of a story? Bloom pitches a stranger, more hopeful solution, one that lets us lean on AI without ever losing our humanity. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:

Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.

Watch more:

#TED #TEDTalks #AI