Believed to have come from the Indian game chaturanga before the 7th century, chess is now everyone’s favorite board game. Played by millions, all you need is a chessboard and a contender, and the battle of wit and strategy can begin.
Chess is also more than just a game as it turns out to be a very worthwhile pastime. It helps improve brain function, memory, cognitive abilities, strategic thinking, and your ability to concentrate. It’s even interesting that whatever lessons you can learn from chess, you can also apply in real life, such as patience, creativity, and resourcefulness.
And for all the chess lovers out there, you can all agree that the best thing about chess is how simply fun it is. It never repeats itself so it’s never boring. These 30 chess quotes accurately capture the soul of the game and why most of us love chess in the first place.
I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing. – Vladimir Kramnik
I have come to the personal conclusion that while all artists are not chess players, all chess players are artists. – Marcel Duchamp
Unlike other games in which lucre is the end and aim, [chess] recommends itself to the wise by the fact that its mimic battles are fought for no prize but honour. It is eminently and emphatically the philosopher’s game. – Paul Morphy
The beauty of chess is it can be whatever you want it to be. It transcends language, age, race, religion, politics, gender and socioeconomic background. Whatever your circumstances, anyone can enjoy a good fight to the death over the chess board. -Simon Williams
Chess is the struggle against error. – Johannes Zukertort
I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves. – Bobby Fischer
Every chess master was once a beginner. – Irving Chernev
The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it… For Life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with. – Benjamin Franklin
Also Read: 30 Benjamin Franklin Quotes on Learning & Living With A Purpose
One doesn’t have to play well, it’s enough to play better than your opponent. – Siegbert Tarrasch
Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. – Ralph Charell
Chess makes man wiser and clear-sighted. – Vladimir Putin
Of chess, it has been said that life is not long enough for it, but that is the fault of life, not chess. – William Napier
Chess is the gymnasium of the mind. – Blaise Pascal
Chess doesn’t drive people mad, it keeps mad people sane. – Bill Hartston
Chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for. – Hans Ree
Chess holds its master in its own bonds, shackling the mind and brain so that the inner freedom of the very strongest must suffer. – Albert Einstein
In life, as in chess, one’s own pawns block one’s way. A man’s very wealth, ease, leisure, children, books, which should help him to win, more often checkmate him. -Charles Buxton
It will be cheering to know that many people are skillful chess players, though in many instances their brains, in a general way, compare unfavorably with the cognitive faculties of a rabbit. – James Mortimer
Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind. – Bobby Fischer
As proved by evidence, [chess is] more lasting in its being and presence than all books and achievements; the only game that belongs to all people and all ages; of which none knows the divinity that bestowed it on the world, to slay boredom, to sharpen the senses, to exhilarate the spirit. – Stefan Zweig
The only thing chess players have in common is chess. – Lodewijk Prins
Chess, like love, like music, has the power to make men happy. – Siegbert Tarrasch
Play the opening like a book, the middlegame like a magician, and the endgame like a machine. – Rudolph Spielmann
If your opponent offers you a draw, try to work out why he thinks he’s worse off. – Nigel Short
For in the idea of chess and the development of the chess mind we have a picture of the intellectual struggle of mankind. – Richard Réti
When you see a good move, look for a better one. – Emanuel Lasker
One bad move nullifies forty good ones. – Bernhard Horwitz
Chess helps you to concentrate, improve your logic. It teaches you to play by the rules and take responsibility for your actions, how to problem solve in an uncertain environment. – Garry Kasparov
There is no remorse like the remorse of chess. – H. G. Wells
Chess is life in miniature. Chess is struggle, chess is battles. – Garry Kasparov
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