Life’s too short for chess. Henry James
In life, as in chess, forethought wins. Charles Buxton
The human element, the human flaw and the human nobility – those are the reasons that chess matches are won or lost. Viktor Korchnoi
When you play Bobby, it is not a question if you win or lose. It is a question if you survive. Boris Spassky
There is only one thing Fischer does in chess without pleasure: lose! Boris Spassky
You can only get good at chess if you love the game. Bobby Fischer
Chess is the gymnasium of the mind. Blaise Pascal
I find chess acts like a cold bath for the mind. Andrew Bonar Law
It is impossible to win gracefully at chess. No man yet has said ‘mate’ in a voice which failed to sound to his opponent bitter, boastful and malicious. A A Milne
I like the moment when I break a man’s ego. Bobby Fischer
It is a gross overstatement, but in chess, it can be said I play against my opponent over the board and against myself on the clock. Viktor Korchnoi
No chess grandmaster is normal; they only differ in the extent of their madness. Viktor Korchnoi
There are people who beat you before the game begins by the confident way in which they arrange the pieces, by the authority with which they make a move, almost by the way they look out of the window or drum their fingers while they are waiting for you to play. Sir John Simon
Chess is not only the most ancient, but also the most universal game in the world. Sir John Simon
Chess is like life. Boris Spassky
My best time was when I was moving to become champion. Boris Spassky
He was an individual and so was I. Today, these players have coaches, physicians, cooks, psychologists, and parapsychologists. The championship has become a fight between two big collective farms. Boris Spassky (on Fischer)
Chess, with all its philosophical depth, its aesthetic appeal, is first of all a game in the best sense of the word; a game in which are revealed your intellect, character, will. Boris Spassky
Chess is ruthless: you’ve got to be prepared to kill people. Nigel Short
Chess is life. Bobby Fischer
Chess is a matter of delicate judgement, knowing when to punch and how to duck. Bobby Fischer
Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent’s mind. Bobby Fischer
I don’t believe in psychology. I believe in good moves. Bobby Fischer
Every time I win a tournament I have to think that there is something wrong with modern chess. Viktor Korchnoi