I object to being called a chess genius because I consider myself to be an all around genius who just happens to play chess, which is rather different. A piece of garbage like Kasparov might be called a chess genius, but he's like an idiot savant. Outside of chess he knows nothing.

I can remember times coming home from a chess club at four in the morning when I was half asleep and half dead and forcing myself to pray an hour and study an hour. You know, I was half out of my mind-stoned almost.

You have to have the fighting spirit. You have to force moves and take chances

I have nothing to do with politics. I came here [Yugoslavia] to play chess and nothing else.

I'm not afraid of Spassky. The world knows I'm the best. You don't need a match to prove it.

I am not today, nor have I ever been a Jew, and as a matter of fact, I am uncircumcised.

I don't keep any close friends. I don't keep any secrets. I don't need friends. I just tell everybody everything, that's all.