--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think there is a thing like…" description: "\"I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It's always better to be too confident than too reluctant.\" — Magnus Carlsen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/magnus-carlsen-11607_chess_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-thing-like-over_2850673.png" --- # I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in… ![“I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It's always better to be too confident than too reluctant.” quote by Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/magnus-carlsen-11607_chess_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-thing-like-over_2850673.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/magnus-carlsen-11607_chess_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-thing-like-over_2850673.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/28a/magnus-carlsen-11607_chess_i-don-t-think-there-is-a-thing-like-over_2850673.png) > “I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. It's always better to be too confident than too reluctant.” [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Confidence in chess is better than hesitation; overconfidence is not a recognized flaw in the game. **In simple terms:** Being confident beats being hesitant. Key Takeaway Embrace confidence, avoid excessive caution. Themes confidence chess decision making Mood determined optimistic Type motivational strategic When to use this quote - tournament play - training sessions - coaching - personal mindset Key Concepts risk assessment psychology of performance Questions to Reflect On - How does confidence affect your play? - When is caution beneficial? A Different Perspective Overconfidence can lead to reckless mistakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Overconfidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconfidence/) [Reluctant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reluctant/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“In life, as in chess, it is always better to analyze one's motives and intentions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/in-life-as-in-chess-it-is-always-better-to-analyze-one-s-motives-and/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“the fourth villain of decision making is overconfidence. People think they know more than they do about how the future will unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-heath/the-fourth-villain-of-decision-making-is-overconfidence-people-think/) [Chip Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-heath/) > [Doubt is not the enemy of justice; overconfidence is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/doubt-is-not-the-enemy-of-justice-overconfidence-is/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) > [“I have a cunning plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-curtis/i-have-a-cunning-plan/) [Richard Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-curtis/) > [“Auguste preferred women. He told me I would grow into it. I told him that he could get heirs and I would read books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-u-pacat/auguste-preferred-women-he-told-me-i-would-grow-into-it-i-told-him/) [S.U. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-u-pacat/) > [“One of these days my overconfidence is going to get me killed . . . but not today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-schardein/one-of-these-days-my-overconfidence-is-going-to-get-me-killed-but-not/) Bryan Schardein > [Sometimes its difficult to accept, to recognise ones own mistakes, but one must do it. I was guilty of overconfidence and arrogance, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-gorbachev/sometimes-its-difficult-to-accept-to-recognise-ones-own-mistakes-but/) [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-gorbachev/) > [“Overconfidence is a lowly bitch that easily fucked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/overconfidence-is-a-lowly-bitch-that-easily-fucked/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Less reasoning when be too sure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/less-reasoning-when-be-too-sure/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [Incompetence annoys me. Overconfidence terrifies me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/incompetence-annoys-me-overconfidence-terrifies-me/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“A shell in the pit," said I, "if the worst comes to worst will kill them all." The intense excitement of the events had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-g-wells-2/a-shell-in-the-pit-said-i-if-the-worst-comes-to-worst-will-kill-them/) [H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-g-wells-2/) > [Self esteem is not the same as being self centered, self absorbed or selfish. Self esteem is also not complacency or overconfidence, both of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-r-schiraldi/self-esteem-is-not-the-same-as-being-self-centered-self-absorbed-or/) Glenn R. Schiraldi > [“Overconfidence leads to carelessness, which leads just as surely to disaster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-mackenzie/overconfidence-leads-to-carelessness-which-leads-just-as-surely-to/) [Sally MacKenzie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-mackenzie/) > [“If you think you know everything, you will be proven time after time that you only know very little. The right amount of confidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taskinsoy/if-you-think-you-know-everything-you-will-be-proven-time-after-time/) [JOHN TASKINSOY](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taskinsoy/) > [A certain death of an artist is overconfidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-trower/a-certain-death-of-an-artist-is-overconfidence/) [Robin Trower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-trower/) ## More by Magnus Carlsen > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I'm more interested in the games than the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-m-more-interested-in-the-games-than-the-people/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I've never really had a favorite player, past or present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-ve-never-really-had-a-favorite-player-past-or-present/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-spend-hours-playing-chess-because-i-find-it-so-much-fun-the-day-it/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [You need to have that edge, you need to have that confidence, you need to have that absolute belief that you're - you're the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/you-need-to-have-that-edge-you-need-to-have-that-confidence-you-need/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some people think that if their opponent plays a beautiful game, it's OK to lose. I don't. You have to be merciless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/some-people-think-that-if-their-opponent-plays-a-beautiful-game-it-s/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I think with chess as with everything, marketing is the main issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-think-with-chess-as-with-everything-marketing-is-the-main-issue/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [It's just not my nature to go around idolizing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/it-s-just-not-my-nature-to-go-around-idolizing-people/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I played like a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-played-like-a-child/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I really enjoy the experience of playing humans. The psychological game is so much more important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-really-enjoy-the-experience-of-playing-humans-the-psychological/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I am trying to beat the guy sitting across from me and trying to choose the moves that are most unpleasant for him and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-trying-to-beat-the-guy-sitting-across-from-me-and-trying-to/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [If you want to get to the top, there's always the risk that it will isolate you from other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/if-you-want-to-get-to-the-top-there-s-always-the-risk-that-it-will/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [I can’t count the times I have lagged seemingly hopelessly far behind, and nobody except myself thinks I can win. But I have pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-can-t-count-the-times-i-have-lagged-seemingly-hopelessly-far-behind/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [My father, a fine chess player himself, has been a massive influence throughout my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/my-father-a-fine-chess-player-himself-has-been-a-massive-influence/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [You need to have that edge, you need to have that confidence, you need to have that absolute belief that you’re the best and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/you-need-to-have-that-edge-you-need-to-have-that-confidence-you-need-2/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) [Explore all 59 Magnus Carlsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) ## More Chess quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think there is a thing like overconfidence in chess. 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