I didn't picture myself as even a grandmaster, to say nothing of aspiring to the chess crown. This was not because I was timid - I wasn't - but because I simply lived in one world, and the grandmasters existed in a completely different one. People like that were not really even people, but like gods or mythical heroes.
Anatoly KarpovThe days when it was possible to win a serious game only by merit of sporting character or depth of chess understanding have vanished forever. Chess knowledge has become dominant, bypassing all the other factors that contribute to success.
Anatoly KarpovI still love to play chess. So I do not even spend a minute on the possibility to step back.
Anatoly KarpovThe ideal in chess can only be a collective image, but in my opinion it is Capablanca who most closely approaches this.
Anatoly Karpov