Quote

I have never in my life played the French Defence, which is the dullest of all openings

Wilhelm Steinitz

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Wilhelm Steinitz
Age: 63 †
Born: 1837
Born: May 18
Died: 1900
Died: August 12
Chess Composer
Chess Player
Chess Theoretician
Praha
William Steinitz
Played
Never
Life
Dullest
Openings
Defence
French
Chess
Opening

More quotes by Wilhelm Steinitz

Image
Have you ever seen a monkey examining a watch?
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
I play my king all over the board. I make him fight!
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
I am fully and entirely concentrated on the board. I never even consider my opponent's personality. So far as I am concerned, my opponent might as well be an abstraction or an automaton.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
The king pawn and the queen pawn are the only ones to be moved in the early part of the game.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Fame, I have already. Now I need the money.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
The task of the positional player is systematically to accumulate slight advantages and try to convert temporary advantages into permanent ones, otherwise the player with the better position runs the risk of losing it.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
A sacrifice is best refuted by accepting it
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
I am not a chess historian - I myself am a piece of chess history, which no one can avoid. I will not write about myself, but I am sure that someone will write.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
A win by an unsound combination, however showy, fills me with artistic horror
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Unfortunately, many regard the critic as an enemy, instead of seeing him as a guide to the truth.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Chess is so inspiring that I do not believe a good player is capable of haviong an evil thought during the game.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Chess is not for the faint-hearted it absorbs a person entirely. To get to the bottom of this game, he has to give himself up into slavery. Chess is difficult, it demands work, serious reflection and zealous research.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Capture of the adverse King is the ultimate but not the first object of the game
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Chess is not for timid souls.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
I shall accord to myself the honor of inscribing myself as an applicant for the American citizenship which according to law I can obtain only after five years residence in this country. And I shall yield to no one of my future countrymen in patriotism. I consider America now my real home.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Chess is intellectual gymnastics.
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
Only the player with the initiative has the right to attack
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
The King is a fighting piece. Use it!
Wilhelm Steinitz
Image
I would rather die in America than live in England. I would rather lose a match in America than win one in England. I have come to the conclusion that I neither mean to die soon or to lose the match!
Wilhelm Steinitz