For my victory over Capablanca I am indebted primarily to my superiority in the field of psychology. Capablanca played, relying almost exclusively on his rich intuitive talent. But for the chess struggle nowadays one needs a subtle knowledge of human nature, an understanding of the opponent's psychology.

During a chess tournament a master must envisage himself as a cross between an ascetic monk and a beast of prey.

I do not play chess – I fight at chess. Therefore, I willingly combine the tactical with the strategic, the fantastic with the scientific, the combinative with the positional, and I aim to respond to the demands of each given position.

A lifetime in not enough to learn everything about chess.

Deux fous gagnent toujours, mais trois fous, non!

I believe that true beauty of chess is more than enough to satisfy all possible demands.

The purpose of human life and the sense of happiness is to give the maximum what the man is able to give.