--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's not what you give, it's the way you…" description: "\"It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.\" — Bruce Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg" --- # It's not what you give, it's the way you give it. ![“It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg) > “It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.” [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The manner of giving matters more than the gift itself. **In simple terms:** How you give is crucial. Key Takeaway Focus on delivery. Themes communication mindset ethics Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - teaching - leadership - customer service - relationships Key Concepts intentionality presentation Questions to Reflect On - How can you improve your delivery? - What impact does style have on perception? A Different Perspective May ignore gift value. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It's not what you give that counts… It's how you give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khiya/it-s-not-what-you-give-that-counts-it-s-how-you-give/) [Khiya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khiya/) > [It's not what you've been given, it's what you do with what you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddi-reader/it-s-not-what-you-ve-been-given-it-s-what-you-do-with-what-you-ve-got/) [Eddi Reader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddi-reader/) > [What you give is what you get...but when it's not, that means you may be giving it to the wrong person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-vernon/what-you-give-is-what-you-get-but-when-it-s-not-that-means-you-may-be/) [Aimee Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-vernon/) > [You get what you give. What you put into things is what you get out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/you-get-what-you-give-what-you-put-into-things-is-what-you-get-out-of/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) > [It's only the giving that makes you what you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/it-s-only-the-giving-that-makes-you-what-you-are/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) > [What you give, is what you get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brando/what-you-give-is-what-you-get/) [Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brando/) > [It's not about what I can get, it's what I can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/it-s-not-about-what-i-can-get-it-s-what-i-can-give/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Giving is a way of having what you need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/giving-is-a-way-of-having-what-you-need/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [We receive all we venture to give. And one of the things I've learned over the years is that giving is everything, and taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-anderson/we-receive-all-we-venture-to-give-and-one-of-the-things-i-ve-learned/) [Jon Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-anderson/) > [What you give to others, you give to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-course-in-miracles/what-you-give-to-others-you-give-to-yourself/) [A Course In Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-course-in-miracles/) > [To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-beerbohm/to-give-and-then-not-feel-that-one-has-given-is-the-very-best-of-all/) [Max Beerbohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-beerbohm/) > [Giving people what they want isn't always what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/giving-people-what-they-want-isn-t-always-what-they-want/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you give what you do not need, it is not giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/if-you-give-what-you-do-not-need-it-is-not-giving/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Don't give everything to someone that isn't giving you anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/don-t-give-everything-to-someone-that-isn-t-giving-you-anything/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If you only give back what you get from other people, you're not giving as much as you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-kaufman/if-you-only-give-back-what-you-get-from-other-people-you-re-not/) [Ron Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-kaufman/) ## More by Bruce Lee > [Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference and heaven and earth are set apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/do-not-like-do-not-dislike-all-will-then-be-clear-make-a-hairbreadth/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The more aware you become, the more you shed from day to day what you have learned so that your mind is always fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-more-aware-you-become-the-more-you-shed-from-day-to-day-what-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The usefulness of the cup is its emptiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-usefulness-of-the-cup-is-its-emptiness/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [My style? You can call it the art of fighting without fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/my-style-you-can-call-it-the-art-of-fighting-without-fighting/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The founder of any branch must be more ingenious than the common man. However, if his achievement is not carried on by disciples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-founder-of-any-branch-must-be-more-ingenious-than-the-common-man/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I don't believe in different ways of fighting now. I mean, unless human beings have 3 arms and 3 legs, then we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-don-t-believe-in-different-ways-of-fighting-now-i-mean-unless-human/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Be a practical dreamer backed by action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/be-a-practical-dreamer-backed-by-action/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/in-order-to-taste-my-cup-of-water-you-must-first-empty-your-cup/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Truth comes when your mind and heart are purged of all sense of striving and you are no longer trying to become somebody; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/truth-comes-when-your-mind-and-heart-are-purged-of-all-sense-of/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [A person cannot forget someone who is good to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/a-person-cannot-forget-someone-who-is-good-to-them/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The highest art is no art. The highest form is no form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-highest-art-is-no-art-the-highest-form-is-no-form/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [To live is a constant process of relating, so come on out of that shell of isolation and conclusion, and relate DIRECTLY to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-a-constant-process-of-relating-so-come-on-out-of-that/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I hope martial artists are more interested in the root of martial arts and not the different decorative branches, flowers or leaves. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-hope-martial-artists-are-more-interested-in-the-root-of-martial/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Art lives where absolute freedom is, because where it is not, there can be no creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/art-lives-where-absolute-freedom-is-because-where-it-is-not-there-can/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) [Explore all 562 Bruce Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you-give-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Giving" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you-give-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2fc/bruce-lee-430_giving_it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you_2208070.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.” — Bruce Lee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bruce Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's not what you give, it's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you-give-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-s-not-what-you-give-it-s-the-way-you-give-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```