All lines of play which lead to the imprisonment of the bishop are on principle to be condemned.

As Rousseau could not compose without his cat beside him, so I cannot play chess without my king's bishop. In its absense the game to me is lifeless and void. The vitalizing factor is missing, and I can devise no plan of attack.

Intellectual activity is perhaps the greatest pleasure of life; chess is one of the forms of intellectual activity.

I already came upon the world as a extraordinary human being; to my parents' great horror, I was equipped with a clubfoot which, however, did not hamper my rapid progress.

I have a quite feeling of pity for all those who don't know chess; almost like I am sorry for those who never learned to love. Chess, like love and music, has the ability of making people happy.

Every move creates a weakness.

He who fears an isolated Queen's Pawn should give up Chess.