Achieve Quote by Emanuel Lasker
![“Having spent 200 hours on the above, the young player, even if he possesses no special talent for chess, is likely to be among those two or three thousand chessplayers [who play on a par with a master]. There are, however, a quarter of a million chessplayers who annually spend no fewer than 200…” quote by Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cbf/emanuel-lasker-13485_achieve_having-spent-200-hours-on-the-above-the_1661503.jpg)
“Having spent 200 hours on the above, the young player, even if he possesses no special talent for chess, is likely to be among those two or three thousand chessplayers [who play on a par with a master]. There are, however, a quarter of a million chessplayers who annually spend no fewer than 200 hours on chess without making any progress. Without going into any further calculations, I can assert with a high degree of certainty that nowadays we achieve only a fraction of what we are capable of achieving.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Chess Mastery, 1925 (paraphrased)
Extensive practice yields mastery for some, yet many invest time without improvement, highlighting limits of effort alone.
In simple terms: Practice alone isn’t enough for mastery.
Key Takeaway
Combine practice with effective learning.
Themes
chess
skill development
effort
talent
learning
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
educational
motivational
When to use this quote
- coaching
- training programs
- self‑assessment
- goal setting
Key Concepts
Deliberate practice
skill plateau
growth mindset
Questions to Reflect On
- What methods improve practice quality?
- How does talent influence learning curves?
A Different Perspective
Talent and quality of practice affect outcomes; time alone may not guarantee progress.
