--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got the chess bug when I was finishing…" description: "\"I got the chess bug when I was finishing high school, we were doing chess tournaments at my house. I never got to a very high level.\" — Paul Banks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/402/paul-banks-25147_bugs_i-got-the-chess-bug-when-i-was-finishing_2146384.jpg" --- # I got the chess bug when I was finishing high school, we… ![“I got the chess bug when I was finishing high school, we were doing chess tournaments at my house. I never got to a very high level.” quote by Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/402/paul-banks-25147_bugs_i-got-the-chess-bug-when-i-was-finishing_2146384.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/402/paul-banks-25147_bugs_i-got-the-chess-bug-when-i-was-finishing_2146384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/402/paul-banks-25147_bugs_i-got-the-chess-bug-when-i-was-finishing_2146384.jpg) > “I got the chess bug when I was finishing high school, we were doing chess tournaments at my house. I never got to a very high level.” [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Developing an early passion for chess sparked lasting interest, even without reaching elite skill. **In simple terms:** Early exposure fuels lifelong curiosity. Key Takeaway Nurture early interests regardless of mastery. Themes learning passion development Mood reflective optimistic Type motivational educational When to use this quote - school clubs - family gatherings - self‑directed study Key Concepts cognitive growth skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - How can casual play still benefit personal growth? - What resources help bridge hobby to expertise? A Different Perspective Limited practice may hinder high‑level achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bugs/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Tournaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tournaments/) ## Related quotes > [I used to compete in chess tournaments when I was six years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-manganiello/i-used-to-compete-in-chess-tournaments-when-i-was-six-years-old/) [Joe Manganiello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-manganiello/) > [I am most challenged by playing cash games against the world's top players. These games force me to think several moves in advance, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-negreanu/i-am-most-challenged-by-playing-cash-games-against-the-world-s-top/) [Daniel Negreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-negreanu/) > [It is easy to have a lot of paintings or projects hanging around that are 'almost done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-kinkade/it-is-easy-to-have-a-lot-of-paintings-or-projects-hanging-around-that/) [Thomas Kinkade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-kinkade/) > [You can always improve with the team. There are tactical things, finishing in front of goal, speed as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/you-can-always-improve-with-the-team-there-are-tactical-things/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [Always quit for the day when you know what you want to do next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/always-quit-for-the-day-when-you-know-what-you-want-to-do-next/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [I think it started with both the shows and the box set from finishing White Material. I think we were also pretty desperate to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-a-staples/i-think-it-started-with-both-the-shows-and-the-box-set-from-finishing/) [Stuart A. Staples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-a-staples/) > [So many people are good at starts and not so good at finishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-corcoran/so-many-people-are-good-at-starts-and-not-so-good-at-finishing/) [Barbara Corcoran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-corcoran/) > [I need to improve my finishing. I need more goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-ji-sung/i-need-to-improve-my-finishing-i-need-more-goals/) [Park Ji-sung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-ji-sung/) > [Don't start shit you can't finish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden/don-t-start-shit-you-can-t-finish/) [Jaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden/) > [I didn't finish high school - left home when I was 15. I moved away to Fresno and worked as a grocery clerk. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-covey/i-didn-t-finish-high-school-left-home-when-i-was-15-i-moved-away-to/) [Joy Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-covey/) > [Salah already played in England. He has high skills at dribbling, tempo and finishing and he makes defenders despair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-matip/salah-already-played-in-england-he-has-high-skills-at-dribbling-tempo/) [Joel Matip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-matip/) > [“Never be afraid to offer a smile; sure the risk is that a few foolish people may misinterpret your kindness as weakness, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/never-be-afraid-to-offer-a-smile-sure-the-risk-is-that-a-few-foolish/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [A good, finished scandal, fully armed and equipped, such as circulates in the world, is rarely the production of a single individual, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-swetchine/a-good-finished-scandal-fully-armed-and-equipped-such-as-circulates/) [Sophie Swetchine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-swetchine/) > [One should never forget that by actually perfecting one piece one gains and learns more than by starting or half-finishing a dozen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-brahms/one-should-never-forget-that-by-actually-perfecting-one-piece-one/) [Johannes Brahms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-brahms/) > [There is usually no dreamer so unworldly as the anthologist. He wanders in a vast garden, lost in wonder, unable to decide often between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-webb/there-is-usually-no-dreamer-so-unworldly-as-the-anthologist-he/) [Mary Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-webb/) ## More by Paul Banks > [...It's an unmeetable level of writing. But even if it's something I feel like I can't ever attain, it doesn't crush my spirit. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/it-s-an-unmeetable-level-of-writing-but-even-if-it-s-something-i-feel/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [It's not like changing one word with my lyrics is going to make them more intelligible or relatable. I was always very misunderstood and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/it-s-not-like-changing-one-word-with-my-lyrics-is-going-to-make-them/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [The idea of starting a band because of Nirvana and thereby trying to sound like Nirvana is totally not the case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/the-idea-of-starting-a-band-because-of-nirvana-and-thereby-trying-to/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [“You were like a cloud, you were just like a flower, then you were a lime, now our love is sour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/you-were-like-a-cloud-you-were-just-like-a-flower-then-you-were-a/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [My influences are vast and varied. I was into classic rock at the same time that I was into hip-hop. It was just that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/my-influences-are-vast-and-varied-i-was-into-classic-rock-at-the-same/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [If you're an artist, you do what you do, and in a way, you don't even control the core essence of what you do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/if-you-re-an-artist-you-do-what-you-do-and-in-a-way-you-don-t-even/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [If time is my vessel, then learning to love might be my way back to sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/if-time-is-my-vessel-then-learning-to-love-might-be-my-way-back-to-sea/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [In an artistic and spiritual sense I'm really not that concerned about what happens after the album is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/in-an-artistic-and-spiritual-sense-i-m-really-not-that-concerned/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [I perceive everything to be constantly subjective and strange. My version of truth in what I express, it feels like that opaque quality that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/i-perceive-everything-to-be-constantly-subjective-and-strange-my/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [Everyone is broken-hearted except for the drastically unimaginative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/everyone-is-broken-hearted-except-for-the-drastically-unimaginative/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [That's for non-musicians to say: "I only listen to this or that type of music." I think musicians love all music, or at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/that-s-for-non-musicians-to-say-i-only-listen-to-this-or-that-type-of/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [I don't really get a lot of clarity in my everyday life and my interactions with people. Most things that happen to me aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/i-don-t-really-get-a-lot-of-clarity-in-my-everyday-life-and-my/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [I didn't come in and say: "I'm a singer." I came into the band as a second guitar player and a vocalist, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/i-didn-t-come-in-and-say-i-m-a-singer-i-came-into-the-band-as-a/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [Sometimes you learn about the personality of your favorite artist, and you like their art a little less, because it doesn't jibe with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/sometimes-you-learn-about-the-personality-of-your-favorite-artist-and/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) > [When I say I had a cosmic confidence that we were capable of writing good music, I'm speaking about that time when we met…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-banks/when-i-say-i-had-a-cosmic-confidence-that-we-were-capable-of-writing/) [Paul Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) [Explore all 23 Paul Banks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-banks/) ## More Bugs quotes > [If you were to draw Bugs, the easiest way is to learn how to draw a carrot and then hook a rabbit onto it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-jones/if-you-were-to-draw-bugs-the-easiest-way-is-to-learn-how-to-draw-a/) [Chuck Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-jones/) > [I caught the acting bug from my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wittrock/i-caught-the-acting-bug-from-my-dad/) [Finn Wittrock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wittrock/) > [I didnt write Snow White for any class, but I got bitten by the screenwriting bug and wrote a couple of scripts in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-daugherty/i-didnt-write-snow-white-for-any-class-but-i-got-bitten-by-the/) [Evan Daugherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-daugherty/) > [Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? Have I not in my time heard lions roar? Have I not heard the sea,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/think-you-a-little-din-can-daunt-mine-ears-have-i-not-in-my-time/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In politics, Bugs Bunny always beats Daffy Duck. Daffy's always going berserk, jumping up and down, yelling. Bugs's got that sly smile, like he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-greenfield/in-politics-bugs-bunny-always-beats-daffy-duck-daffy-s-always-going/) [Jeff Greenfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-greenfield/) > [Look, it's terrible, I know, but weakness really, really bugs me, to the point that if there is a wounded bird on the sidewalk,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/look-it-s-terrible-i-know-but-weakness-really-really-bugs-me-to-the/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [“Bugs make you ill Aqua, not the cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-l-searle/bugs-make-you-ill-aqua-not-the-cold/) T.L. Searle > [I get a lot of stuff from Germany - stuffed bugs and tarantulas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-petersen/i-get-a-lot-of-stuff-from-germany-stuffed-bugs-and-tarantulas/) [William Petersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-petersen/) > [Albert and I would spend hours and hours looking at them. Cleo had this big magnifying glass on his desk, and we'd find centipedes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/albert-and-i-would-spend-hours-and-hours-looking-at-them-cleo-had/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [It's hard to describe to people how terrible it was when you could only watch cartoons at a certain time in your life. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/it-s-hard-to-describe-to-people-how-terrible-it-was-when-you-could/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) > [It's true, I had hacked into a lot of companies, and took copies of the source code to analyze it for security bugs. 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Today they stick to FORTRAN, so that they can share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edsger-dijkstra/in-the-good-old-days-physicists-repeated-each-other-s-experiments/) [Edsger Dijkstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edsger-dijkstra/) [Browse all 548 Bugs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bugs/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got the chess bug when I was finishing high school, we were doing chess tournaments at my house. 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