I watched a lot of Kung Fu as a youth.

For the fighting, of course. Looking back on it now, it's an amazing, strongly-written show with a lot of elegant dialog.

There's one little piece of it I've tried to carry with me since I was young. I can't remember much about the episode, other than Caine and this black prospector ended up being confronted by a Liberty Valance-type tough and, unfortunately, killing him.

They're hauling the body back to town and the prospector is griping, while Caine sits in back playing his flute. The prospector fears their reception: here's a black guy and a chinaman bringing in an important dead white man, and they'll get convicted and hung in about the time it takes a rooster to get some eggs started. How can he just sit back there playing the flute?

Caine quits playing the flute and says:


I've tried to tell myself that many a time when I'm pointlessly anxious. Action can change the future, worry offers noting but grief.

(And yes, I know some claim Bruce Lee is largely responsible for the series and its unique mixture of philosophy and action, but David Carradine ended up with the role -- hey, the guy could enunciate and had a wonderful gentle but firm voice. And all the bumps and bruises)

Thanks, David Carradine. Who knows how much Taoism I absorbed by osmosis while waiting for the next fight scene.