The retreat of a minor piece to the back rank, where it cuts the lines of communication between the rooks, is permissable only in exceptional cases.

I think that for the highest achievements nowadays... need to have the stable as a rock scientific base. And also need to own modesty.

For success I consider three factors are necessary: firstly, an awareness of my own strengths and weaknesses; secondly, an accurate understanding of my opponent's strengths and weaknesses; thirdly, a higher aim than momentary satisfaction. I see this aim as being scientific and artistic achievements, which place the game of chess on a par with other arts.

Chess is not only knowledge and logic

I have had to work long and hard to eradicate the dangerous delusion that, in a bad position, I could always, or nearly always, conjure up some unexpected combination to extricate me from my difficulties.

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

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