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Famous Quotes by Jackie Chan: Wisdom on Life, Martial Arts, and Kindness

Posted: June 12, 2024

Jackie Chan, a legendary martial artist and actor, is renowned not only for his incredible stunts and martial arts prowess but also for his wisdom and life lessons. His quotes reflect a deep understanding of resilience, kindness, and personal growth. From advocating for taking control of one's life to emphasizing the power of kindness and non-violence, Jackie Chan's words inspire millions around the world. This collection of his most famous quotes offers a glimpse into the mind of a true master, whose influence extends far beyond the silver screen.

Here are 50 quotes from Jackie Chan, with explanations for each:

1. "Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances."

   • Advocates for taking control of your life and situation.

2. "I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."

   • Emphasizes individuality and authenticity.

3. "We learn martial arts as helping weakness. You never fight for people to get hurt. You’re always helping people."

   • Promotes the principle of using martial arts to aid others.

4. "Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life."

   • Highlights the power of kindness.

5. "Cinema reflects culture and there is no harm in adapting technology, but not at the cost of losing your originality."

   • Encourages innovation while preserving cultural identity.

6. "Family is not who’s blood is in you, it’s who you love and who loves you."

   • Defines family by love and relationships rather than blood.

7. "The best fights are the ones we avoid."

   • Promotes non-violence and conflict avoidance.

8. "Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to stand back up."

   • Emphasizes resilience and the power of choice.

9. "I’m crazy, but I’m not stupid."

   • Acknowledges his daring nature while emphasizing thoughtfulness.

10. "I only want my work to make people happy."

    • Expresses his goal to bring joy through his work.

11. "Before I do a stunt, I have to make sure it is safe."

    • Emphasizes the importance of safety in his work.

12. "I have more fans in India than in China."

    • Highlights his global popularity.

13. "I love wushu a lot and I would love to see it included in future Olympic Games."

    • Shows his passion for promoting martial arts.

14. "I like to treat my audience like family, treating them well."

    • Reflects his respect for his fans.

15. "I will make action films, I think, for a few more years, another five years."

    • Indicates his dedication to action cinema.

16. "I think as a celebrity, we have to teach the young generation how to speak with respect to the opponent."

    • Advocates for respectful conduct.

17. "I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."

    • Reemphasizes his desire to be original.

18. "American stuntmen are smart - they think about safety. When they do a jump in a car, they calculate everything: the speed, the distance... But in Hong Kong, we don't know how to count. Everything we do is a guess. If you've got the guts, you do it. All of my stuntmen have gotten hurt."

    • Contrasts American and Hong Kong stunt techniques, highlighting his team's bravery.

19. "My wish is to bring my heroes to the big screen, and many of them have already appeared in films. I like Bruce Lee, of course, and also Jet Li, Donnie Yen and Tony Jaa. I think they are all great martial artists."

    • Shows his respect for fellow martial artists.

20. "When I came to America in 1980, my goal was not to become a martial arts star. I wanted to become a comedian in the same vein as Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd."

    • Reflects on his career ambitions.

21. "I'm not sure if it's good to have freedom or not. I'm really confused now. If you're too free, you're like the way Hong Kong is now. It's very chaotic. If you're too tight, like China, then you lose a lot of freedom. So, you need to have a balance."

    • Discusses the balance between freedom and order.

22. "Don't try to be like Jackie. There is only one Jackie. Study computers instead."

    • Advises the younger generation to find their own paths.

23. "Every time I get married, I look for a woman who is good-looking and has big eyes. So when I have a baby, they can see with big eyes and be very cute."

    • Shares his hopes for his family.

24. "Do not be afraid of a small opponent, he can be just as strong as a bigger opponent."

    • Highlights the unpredictability of strength.

25. "The children are the future of all nations. If the children are smart, the nation will become stronger and stronger."

    • Emphasizes the importance of education for the youth.

26. "Being still and doing nothing are two completely different things."

    • Explains the difference between inactivity and calmness.

27. "Coffee is a language in itself."

    • Shows his love for coffee.

28. "The world isn't that big, but it's not that small either."

    • Reflects on the size of the world.

29. "Since the child knew his parents would give in, he tried the same trick again and again."

    • Discusses child behavior and parenting.

30. "Success is not a destiny; it’s a journey."

    • Highlights that success is an ongoing process.

31. "Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances."

    • Encourages taking control of one's life.

32. "If there really is a god, then he has been terrible to my people."

    • Reflects on the hardships faced by his people.

33. "I have many problems in my life. But my lips don't know that. They just keep smiling."

    • Emphasizes the power of positivity.

34. "The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering."

    • Encourages living a meaningful life.

35. "Don't let your circumstances define who you are. You can choose your own path."

    • Advocates for self-determination.

36. "Martial arts is for defense. It's not about attacking."

    • Emphasizes the defensive nature of martial arts.

37. "You don't need to be a superhero to do great things. You can just be yourself."

    • Encourages authenticity.

38. "To make people laugh is easy, but to make people cry is hard."

    • Reflects on the difficulty of evoking emotions.

39. "I do small things. I try to do good things every day."

    • Discusses his approach to making a positive impact.

40. "Every time I see an old person, I think that someday I’ll be like that, so I try to treat everyone like I want to be treated."

    • Emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect.

41. "Do not let circumstances control you. You change your circumstances."

    • Advocates for taking control of your life.

42. "A good teacher must be able to put himself in the place of those who find learning hard."

    • Highlights the importance of empathy in teaching.

43. "Before I do a stunt, I have to make sure it is safe."

    • Emphasizes the importance of safety in his work.

44. "I like to treat my audience like family, treating them well."

    • Reflects his respect for his fans.

45. "A man who wants to do something will find a way; a man who doesn't will find an excuse."

    • Emphasizes determination and effort.

46. "Every time you build a character, you have to take it to the limit."

    • Discusses his approach to acting.

47. "The best fights are the ones we avoid."

    • Promotes non-violence and conflict avoidance.

48. "Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to stand back up."

    • Emphasizes resilience and the power of choice.

49. "I’m crazy, but I’m not stupid."

    • Acknowledges his daring nature while emphasizing thoughtfulness.

50. "I only want my work to make people happy."

    • Expresses his goal to bring joy through his work.