36 Timeless Chess Quotes that Will Motivate You to Succeed

36 Timeless Chess Quotes that Will Motivate You to Succeed

One of the most popular pages on the Rich As A King blog is the chess quotes page. This is because many people, even if they don’t play chess, like inspirational quotes. The wisdom of chess lies in the fact that its winning strategies not only can be applied on the board, but are applicable to life off the board as well.

When was the first game of chess?

Chess first originated in India in the sixth century, and it was called Chaturanga, a Sanskrit word referring to the four divisions of the military. In those days, the pieces were infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. Over time, these pieces evolved into today’s pawn, knight, bishop, and rook. And the queen replaced the piece that was known as the “vizier.” The game spread to the Persian Empire, and from there to the rest of the world. The words “chess” and “check” originated from the Persian word Shah, meaning “king.”

The rules and moves that chess players use today also evolved over the years, as did the game’s unique tactics and strategies. As Grandmaster Susan Polgar and I wrote in Rich As A King, the intriguing logic and strategy of chess can be applied to finance, as well as life in general.

With such a long history, it’s not surprising that a wealth of chess quotes, from chess players and also from lovers of the game, has accumulated over the years. Even if you aren’t a chess player, you can still appreciate chess quotes for their piquancy and wisdom. Here are a few of my favorites:

“In life, as in chess, forethought wins.” – Charles Buxton

“The beauty of a move lies not in its appearance but in the thought behind it.” – Aaron Nimzowitsch

“Chess is the gymnasium of the mind.”  – Blaise Pascal

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Douglas Goldstein, co-author of Rich As A King: How the Wisdom of Chess Can Make You A Grandmaster of Investing, is an avid chess player, international investment advisor, and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®).