--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is chess, do you think? Those who…" description: "\"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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/ben-kingsley-5765_art_what-is-chess-do-you-think-those-who-pla_1381305.jpg" --- # What is chess, do you think? Those who play for fun or not… ![“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.” quote by Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/ben-kingsley-5765_art_what-is-chess-do-you-think-those-who-pla_1381305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/ben-kingsley-5765_art_what-is-chess-do-you-think-those-who-pla_1381305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/46b/ben-kingsley-5765_art_what-is-chess-do-you-think-those-who-pla_1381305.jpg) > “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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that chess is often mischaracterized as either a game or a science, but its true essence is artistic expression, as exemplified by Bobby Fischer's deep insight. **In simple terms:** Chess is more art than game or science. Key Takeaway Recognize chess as a creative pursuit. Themes art creativity strategy perception mastery Mood reflective inspired Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - competitive play - teaching - personal development - artistic performance Key Concepts Aesthetics pattern recognition intuition Questions to Reflect On - How does viewing chess as art change your approach? - Can strategy and creativity coexist in other fields? A Different Perspective It may overlook the analytical rigor essential for high-level competition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/you-want-to-know-what-i-want-i-ll-tell-you-what-i-want-i-want-back/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [I like to say that Bobby Fischer was the greatest player ever. But what made Fischer a genius was his ability to blend an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-pandolfini/i-like-to-say-that-bobby-fischer-was-the-greatest-player-ever-but/) [Bruce Pandolfini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-pandolfini/) > [I used to play a lot of chess and competitive chess and study chess and as you get to the grandmasters and learn their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainn-wilson/i-used-to-play-a-lot-of-chess-and-competitive-chess-and-study-chess/) [Rainn Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainn-wilson/) > [Bobby Fischer's current state of mind is indeed a tragedy. One of the worlds greatest Chess players - the pride and sorrow of American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-brady/bobby-fischer-s-current-state-of-mind-is-indeed-a-tragedy-one-of-the/) Frank Brady > [Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-spassky/bobby-fischer-has-an-enormous-knowledge-of-chess-and-his-familiarity/) [Boris Spassky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-spassky/) > [When I played Bobby Fischer, my opponent fought against organizations - the television producers and the match organizers. But he never fought against me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-spassky/when-i-played-bobby-fischer-my-opponent-fought-against-organizations/) [Boris Spassky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-spassky/) > [Nowadays, a 13-year-old would probably know more than Bobby Fischer knew when he retired. They analyse all the moves and prepare themselves on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/nowadays-a-13-year-old-would-probably-know-more-than-bobby-fischer/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [ What I admired most about him \[Bobby Fischer\] was his ability to make what was in fact so difficult look easy to us. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/what-i-admired-most-about-him-bobby-fischer-was-his-ability-to-make/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [My God, Bobby Fischer plays so simply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexey-suetin/my-god-bobby-fischer-plays-so-simply/) Alexey Suetin > [The life of a chess master is much more difficult than that of an artist - much more depressing. 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We empathize, we change rhythm and above all we listen to our fellow actors-if they're good actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/we-are-adjusters-we-empathize-we-change-rhythm-and-above-all-we/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [When Attenborough asked me to do Gandhi it was almost like stepping off one boat and stepping on to another, even though both boats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/when-attenborough-asked-me-to-do-gandhi-it-was-almost-like-stepping/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [There is always something about the villains that I'm able to play, quote unquote, that isn't villainous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/there-is-always-something-about-the-villains-that-i-m-able-to-play/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [Family is family over the internet, over Skype, over the telephone. Love is love. 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