quotations about chess
In the opening a master should play like a book, in the middle game he should play like a magician, in the ending he should play like a machine.
IRVING CHERNEV
The Bright Side of Chess
Chess is an art form, but an unusual one in that its greatest achievements require the out put of two minds. An attack is only as brilliant as the defense it must overcome.
BRUCE PANDOLFINI
Treasure Chess
One cannot play chess if one becomes aware of the pieces as living souls and of the fact that the Whites and the Blacks have more in common with each other than with the players.
ANATOL RAPOPORT
Strategy and Conscience
Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponent's mind.
BOBBY FISCHER
Chess is not a standard for measuring the abilities of your acquaintances--nor an epitome of all the sciences--nor a panacea for all human ills--nor a subject for daily toil and nightly meditation. It is simply a recreation, and only to be used and regarded as such. The less selfish you are in its pursuit--the clearer head--the more patience--the better temper you bring to the practice of it, the better will you illustrate the merits of chess as the most intellectual of games, and establish your own character as a philosopher even in sport.
HOWARD STAUNTON
"The Chess-Player's Handbook,", Littell's Living Age, Aug. 18, 1849
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
attributed, "50 Greatest Chess Quotes Of All Time"
Chess is not a science -- at least, not exclusively a science. The proportion as we see it is roughly one quarter science, one quarter art, and all the rest -- battle.
MAX EUWE & H. KRAMER
The Middlegame
There are two classes of men: those who are content to yield to circumstances and who play whist; and those who aim to control circumstances and who play chess.
EDWARD JAMES MORTIMER COLLINS
Frances
Life's too short for chess.
HENRY JAMES BYRON
Our Boys
A great chessplayer is not a great man, for he leaves the world as he found it.
WILLIAM HAZLITT
Table Talk