Chess is not for the faint-hearted; it absorbs a person entirely. To get to the bottom of this game, he has to give himself up into slavery. Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.
Wilhelm SteinitzRead
Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of haviong an evil thought during the game.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Chess promotes focused thinking and inspires noble intentions during play.
In this quote, Wilhelm Steinitz suggests that the intellectual and strategic nature of chess elevates the player's mindset, making them incapable of harboring negative or malicious thoughts while engaged in the game. The essence of chess lies in its ability to foster a spirit of respect, creativity, and profound engagement, implying that the game's beauty and complexity can lead players to aspire towards good intentions.
Themes
ChessInspirationMindsetStrategyIntentions
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about the benefits of strategic thinking, one might quote this to highlight the positive mindset fostered by chess.
More from Wilhelm Steinitz
All quotes →The task of the positional player is systematically to accumulate slight advantages and try to convert temporary advantages into permanent ones, otherwise the player with the better position runs the risk of losing it.
Wilhelm SteinitzRead
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