李小龍是個 ABC(America Born Chinese),1940 年出生於三藩市華埠。三個月大時,父母將他帶回香港。李小龍的母親是中英混血兒,所以說他有八分之一的洋人血統。十幾歲時,因為經常找人比武、打架鬧事,18 歲時被送回美國。李小龍在西雅圖唸完高中,而後轉到西雅圖著名的華盛頓大學(University of Washington)主修戲劇,並修習許多哲學課程。
以下是李小龍最有名的 Be Like Water 談話,是 1971 年在香港接受加拿大電視記者 Pierre Berton 的訪問。
“Empty you mind, Be formless, shapeless, like water. You put water in a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”