Emanuel Lasker

He who wants to educate himself in chess must evade what is dead in chess... the habit of playing with inferior opponents; the custom of avoiding difficult tasks; the weakness of uncritically taking over variations or rules discovered by others; the vanity which is self-sufficient; the incapacity for admitting mistakes; in brief, everything that leads to standstill or to anarchy.

Chess, according to some passionate fans, has been elevated to a science or an art. It is neither; but its main characteristic seems to be what human nature mostly delights in—a fight. Not a physical fight that excites rougher individuals, where blood flows and punches leave marks on bodies, but a fight where scientific, artistic, and purely intellectual elements completely dominate.

When we make a move, the outcome is often uncertain because we can't consider every possibility. Man is too frail, and life is too short for such a task. Therefore, we usually rely on common sense to strengthen our position and be ready for unexpected events. However, in positions which we can fully analyze, we should try to make logical conclusions because analysis is definite and convincing, making it superior to common sense.

You should keep in mind no names, nor numbers, nor isolated incidents, not even results, but only methods.

The laws of chess do not permit a free choice: you have to move whether you like it or not.