Best Bobby Fischer Quotes & Sayings

When I was eleven, I just got good. — Bobby Fischer

There's no luck involved in chess. You just have to work at it. — Bobby Fischer

I think it's almost definite that the game is a draw theoretically. — Bobby Fischer

What is chess, do you think? Those who play for fun or not at all dismiss it as a game. The ones who devote their lives to it for the most part insist that it's a science. It's neither. Bobby Fischer got underneath it like no one before and found at its center, art. — Ben Kingsley

Vacations are designed to refresh the outlook of everyone. No matter how tired they may be when they return to work, vacationers have been refreshed emotionally and intellectually. Their effectiveness in their job has probably improved, and they are, generally speaking, better employees for the time off. — Bobby Fischer

I think the combination of genius and celebrity, in the case of Bobby Fischer, was a dangerous cocktail. — Liz Garbus

If you have seen one Alekhine game you've seen them all. — Bobby Fischer

Every chess game is like taking a five-hour final exam. — Bobby Fischer

The life of a chess master is much more difficult than that of an artist - much more depressing. An artist knows that someday there'll be recognition and monetary reward, but for the chess master there is little public recognition and absolutely no hope of supporting himself by his endeavors. If Bobby Fischer came to me for advice, I certainly would not discourage him - as if anyone could - but I would try to make it positively clear that he will never have any money from chess, live a monk-like existence and know more rejection than any artist ever has, struggling to be known and accepted. — Marcel Duchamp

Now my only income is a few royalty cheques from my books. — Bobby Fischer

The Russians have held my title for ten years and they're going to be in for it when I win the Championship. They're going to have to wait and play under my conditions. — Bobby Fischer

As Olafsson showed me, White can win ... It's hard to believe. I stayed up all night analysing, finally convicing myself, and, incidentally, learning a lot about Rook and Pawn endings in the process. — Bobby Fischer

It's the fault of the chess players themselves. I don't know what they used to be, but now they're not the most gentlemanly group. When it was a game played by the aristocrats it had more like you know dignity to it. When they used to have the clubs, like no women were allowed and everybody went in dressed in a suit, a tie, like gentlemen, you know. Now, kids come running in their sneakers. Even in the best chess club-and they got women in there. It's a social place and people are making noise, it's a madhouse. — Bobby Fischer

To get squares you have to give up squares. — Bobby Fischer

They're lying bastards. Jews were always lying bastards throughout their history. They're a filthy, dirty, disgusting, vile, criminal people. — Bobby Fischer

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

I don't believe in psychology. I believe in good moves — Bobby Fischer

Normally we'd draw the curtain here, but I just wanted to see what he'd play next. — Bobby Fischer

The system set up by F.I.D.E ... Insures that there will always be a Russian world champion ... The Russians arranged it that way. — Bobby Fischer

I don't like American girls. They're very conceited, you know. In Europe they're more pleasant. — Bobby Fischer

When I win, I'll put my title on the line every year, maybe even twice. I'll give players a chance to beat me. — Bobby Fischer

I am the best player in the world and I am here to prove it — Bobby Fischer

Patzer sees a check, gives a check. — Bobby Fischer

What is an obsession? It is a form of programming that has gotten completely out of hand. Religious fanatics are a prime example, as are those people who become enveloped in a political concept. Most of man's progress has come about as a result of obsessions. The Wright brothers were not just tinkerers with an idea; their idea swallowed them up. Most leaders are obsessed with power or possessed by egos so large their only concern is their place in history. I have known writers obsessed with a single subject. Like Bobby Fischer and chess, anything and everything outside their subject seems meaningless. Any art form - music, painting, dance - is done best by those who are completely possessed by it. Such possession often borders on madness. This world would be a sorry place without such madmen. — John A. Keel

Too many times, people don't try their best. They don't have the keen spirit; the winning spirit. And once you make it you've got to guard your reputation - every day go in like an unknown to prove yourself. That's why I don't clown around. I don't believe in wasting time. My goal is to win the World Chess Championship; to beat the Russians. I take this very seriously. — Bobby Fischer

When I used to go to the Manhattan Chess Club back in the fifties, I met a lot of old-timers there who knew Capablanca, because he used to come around to the Manhattan club in the forties - before he died in the early forties. They spoke about Capablanca with awe. I have never seen people speak about any chess player like that, before or since. — Bobby Fischer

Most people are sheep, and they need the support of others. — Bobby Fischer

I usually never stay at the board after a game. Especially against Spassky. I made a dumb suggestion and he refuted it instantly! I know I'm going to have to play him some day and it was really stupid to look like such a jerk in front of him. — Bobby Fischer

Morphy was probably the greatest genius of them all — Bobby Fischer

What I admired most about him [Bobby Fischer] was his ability to make what was in fact so difficult look easy to us. I try to emulate him. — Magnus Carlsen

I love the game - and I hate the Russians because they've almost ruined it. They only risk the title when they have to, every three years. They play for draws with each other but play to win against the Western masters. Draws make for dull chess, wins make for fighting chess. — Bobby Fischer

Concentrate on material gains. Whatever your opponent gives you take, unless you see a good reason not to. — Bobby Fischer

Maybe I should publish the book. The world is coming to an end anyway! — Bobby Fischer

I would rather be free in my mind, and be locked up in a prison cell, than to be a coward and not be able to say what I want. — Bobby Fischer

I want to see the U.S. wiped out. Death to the U.S. — Bobby Fischer

You want to know what I want? I'll tell you what I want. I want back what Bobby Fischer took with him when he disappeared. — Ben Kingsley

Nothing eases suffering like human touch. — Bobby Fischer

You are never too old to play chess! — Bobby Fischer

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 (the Bible) an hour. You know, I
was half out of my head-stoned almost. — Bobby Fischer

I don't care! I don't have to show anybody my games just because they're a big shot! — Bobby Fischer