#1. “If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now.”

#2. “You are the master of your destiny: No one and nothing can come in between you and your destiny except you. Take destiny by the horns and have fun.”

#3. Shop owner: “Ugh, who cares who wins? Those three are a disgrace to kung fu.” Oogway: “I think they will all lose until they find a battle worth fighting.”

#4. “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.”

#5. Oogway: “I know how you can all get what you want. Not just fame and fortune.”

Thundering Rhino: “And how’s that?”

Oogway: “By changing course. When the path you walk always leads back to yourself, you never get anywhere…”

#6. “There is always something more to learn. Even for a master.”

#7. “Nothing is impossible.”

#8. “Use your skills for good, young warrior. Find the one thing you were denied so long ago — compassion.”

#9. Oogway: “Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me, nor make it bear fruit before its time… No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.

Shifu: “But a peach cannot defeat Tai Lung!”

Oogway: “Maybe it can… If you are willing to guide it, to nurture it. To believe in it.”


#10. “When will you realize? The more you take, the less you have.”

#11. “Who knows the ways of the universe? Accident? Or destiny? That is the secret.”

#12. Oogway: “She wants to make you proud.”

Shifu: “Well, maybe I could be proud if she was doing the correct form.”

Oogway: “Your form.”

Shifu: “Is there another kind?!”

Oogway: “Shifu, an acorn can only become the mighty oak, not a cherry tree. You must let her grow into what she will be.”

#13. “Your mind is like this water, my friend. When it is agitated, it becomes difficult to see. But if you allow it to settle, the answer becomes clear.”

#14. Oogway: “My old friend, the panda will never fulfill his destiny, nor you yours, until you let go of the illusion of control.”

#15. Oogway: “The cleaner, the comedian, the dancer and even the little doctor. It was no accident that you found them.”

Tigress: “I failed Shifu.”

Oogway: “Worse. You’re failing yourself. No matter how much you try, you will never be Shifu. The question is… Can you be Tigress?”

#16. “One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.”

#17. “My time has come. You must continue your journey… without me. You must… believe. Promise me you’ll believe.”


#18. “It’s so nice to see you’ve managed to take the most respected art form in China and use it to pursue nothing but fame.”

#19. Oogway: “Shifu, there is a matter of the utmost importance.”

Shifu: “What could be more important than preparing for battle?”

Oogway: “Food! Let’s order in.”

#20. Oogway: “Oh, Shifu. There is just news. There is no good or bad.”

Shifu: “Master, your vision—your vision was right! Tai Lung has broken out of Chorh-Gom prison! He’s on his way!”

Oogway: “That IS bad news… if you do not believe that the Dragon Warrior can stop him.”

#21. Oogway: “There are no accidents.”

Shifu: [sighs] “Yes, I know. You said that already… twice.”

Oogway: “Well, that was no accident either.”

Shifu: “…Thrice.”

#22. Thundering Rhino: “Uh, excuse me! [stuck between two cliff faces after Oogway pushed him there] But how exactly does this help us get across?”

Oogway: “It doesn’t. It helps me. And by helping me, you help yourself.”

#23. “Quit, don’t quit. Noodles, don’t noodles… You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There’s a saying: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”


We all have our ups and downs in life, just like the gang from Kung Fu Panda. Sometimes, we all feel scared when we need to rise to a challenge and overwhelmed when there’s a lot at stake, just like Po does. However, a good piece of advice can go a long way. Master Oogway and his calming presence always seem to make things a little bit better. He teaches us acceptance, tolerance, and patience.

We all need a person like Oogway in our lives, someone to help us find the right path, someone to show us both our strengths and weaknesses and help us discover the truth.

I hope you enjoyed these Master Oogway quotes as much as I did. If you’re ever feeling down, come back and read these quotes again. In fact, why don’t you rewatch the whole Kung Fu Panda franchise?